Whales have made many
appearances including J-Pod, the Southern Resident Killer Whales who seldom come up this far in Georgia Strait. The Transient
Bigg's Orca, meat eaters, have been popping up and making quite a
splash – literally. While looking at/for Killer Whales, amazingly
two Humpback Whales appeared. Quite a surprise. We also have Pacific
White Sided Dolphins, Dall's Porpoise and a few of the shy Harbour
Porpoise in our report today.
Society workings:
Much is going on behind the scenes....any volunteers available for
some computer work? We have Mapping software to post that works with
lack of people for inputting data. The work on the live web camera /
hydrophone systems installations is slowly progressing, but it is
slower than hoped for. Our Fundraising efforts have taken priority
and based on the projected costs, it has to be, or we may fall short
to complete our efforts. Further updates on the state of finances
will be coming, but for now, please remember we are all volunteers
without any compensation for our efforts. Any Donation, or using the
Donate button for ordering our 2015 Fundraising Raffle tickets, with
great potential rewards for you, is hugely appreciated. Enough
begging; on with the report.
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
2015
Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get
your tickets in time for our EARLY
BIRD DRAW!
-
June 21, 2015
see
2015 Summer Raffle
for
full details – Tickets only $5 each.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Transient Bigg's
Orca
June 1, 2015 – 2
photos
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
June 2:
10:15 am: 4-5 Orca off
Grief Point, near Powell River, seem to be feeding as they aren't
moving far. Spy hops from the big male.
11:15 am: Update on
Grief Point Orca. They are now moving very slowly southbound and were
last seen between Beach Gardens and Grief Point, Powell River.
John and Joan Treen,
Powell River
June 2:
11:05
am: Three or four Orca
slowly heading south past Myrtle Rocks, Powell
River. One large, one or two medium and one very small. Difficult to
see due to bad visibility today. They didn’t hang around on the
surface much possibly because of a tug and three barges following
along behind.
Holly Roy, Traffe
Road, Powell River
June 2:
11:45 am: At least five
Transient Bigg's Orca southbound past Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.
There are two or three big males, two of them surfaced side by side,
and a mom and calf in the group.
Jim Southern, Powell
River.
June 2:
12:40 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca between Pender and Stuart Islands headed northeast, 40
minutes ago.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
June 2:
12:52 pm: Group of Orca
southbound off Chatham Point, which is at the junction of Discovery
Passage and Johnstone Strait.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 2:
1:45 pm: Orca slowly
southbound by Elk Bay, just north of Campbell River on Vancouver
Island. Looks like five Orca. One male, one female, one calf and a
couple of juveniles.
2:35 pm: The five Orca
are southbound tight to the Vancouver Island side, approaching
McMullen point, traveling at 4 knots.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 2:
5:06 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca now ID'd as T49A's last seen at Race Point, southbound.
Leaving the scene.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 1:
7:55 am: Three Orca at
Plunger Pass, Cortez Island, circling.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 1:
9:18 am: Transient
Bigg's Orca found at Marina Reef, one mile south of Marina Island on
the southwest side of Cortes Island.
9:54 am: They are the
Transient Bigg's T002C's at the Marina reef marker finishing a kill.
10:22 am: Leaving the
scene after the kill. The Transient Bigg's Orca now circling inside
Marina reef after successfully killing a Harbour Porpoise. Mario is
on the scene now.
2:55 pm: Leaving
Transient Bigg's T002C's now. Again! They are not in the middle, they
are along Cortez Reef heading into Baker Passage now, aiming over
toward Spilsbury Point on Hernando island.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 1:
12:37 pm: Leaving
Transient Bigg's Orca with Garry just south of Marina Island.
Jerry,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 1:
12:46 pm: Left
Transient Bigg's Orca angling towards the Marina Island red marker
buoy.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient Bigg's
Orca
June 1, 2015 – 3
photos
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
June 1:
2:34 pm: Orca now
halfway between Cape Mudge red can buoy and the south tip of Cortez
Island.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 1:
3:00 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca known as T060's at Constance Bank in Juan de Fuca Strait
heading west.
5:19 pm: Another two
unknown Transients heading east of the Trial Islands Ecological
Reserve in Juan de Fuca Strait.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 31:
9:25 am: Transient
Bigg's Orca T090's and T101's two miles off Tofino, on the west coast
of Vancouver Island.
Rare sighting of
Transient Bigg's Orca T125, T125A, T127, T128 off Vashon island in
Puget Sound.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 30:
1:07 pm: 7 – 9 Orca
outbound from Bamfield to Cape Beale on the south west coast of
Vancouver Island right now. Will forward pictures later on.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 30:
2:34 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca T124C is on his own at the moment on the west side of
Sisters Islets, off the coast of Lasquetti Island in NW Georgia
Strait.
3:48 pm: Transient
Bigg's Orca T124C is southbound and still on his own just off Sisters
Islets.
Gary Sutton,“Orca
Maru”.
May 30:
3:51 pm: Just got word
of Killer Whales off the Discovery Pier in Campbell River,
northbound.
Geord Dunstan,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 30:
4:25 pm: Lone bull Orca
close to April Point on Quadra island, not quite to Copper Bluffs as
yet.
Report from vessel
“Sunderland Chief.”
May 30:
6:45 pm: What a treat
to watch a group of between 8 and 12 Orca travel through Discovery
Passage this evening! Viewed from Tyee Spit in Campbell River at
approximately 6:45 pm, they traveled north, breaching, tail and
pectoral slapping, and spy hopping for a good stretch of time and
distance. Wonderful!
Tara Bladon,
Campbell River.
May 30:
6:31 pm: We are out
across from the Anchor Inn in Campbell River, northbound in Discovery
Passage with Orca.
6:42 pm: I have
Transient Bigg's T101/102 and T002C's – about ten Orca all together
northbound off the Ferry dock in Campbell River.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 30:
6:45 pm: Five Orca
including one big male with very straight dorsal and a tiny calf
northbound up Discovery Passage across from Cape Mudge lighthouse on
Quadra Island.
Jeannie, Campbell
River.
May 30:
8:30 pm Columbia 3 left
the Transient Bigg's Orca at Brown's Bay, just north of Campbell
River, still more or less northbound. They had some Pacific White
Sided Dolphins too, but no excited attacks.
May 28:
2:00 pm: Three Orca
heading northeast in Oak Bay Marina off Victoria.
8:27 pm: Orca
identified as Transient Bigg's Orca T124C and T077A. T074 and two
other males and one female off Tofino today were last sighted off
Warren Bay. That is their last known location as of 8:00 pm. They
made two kills today, a Harbour Seal and a Harbour Porpoise.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 27:
Two groups of Transient
Bigg's Orca in Tofino Harbour earlier today.
Rec'd May 28: The male
Transient Bigg's Orca off Tofino yesterday was T074. Also Transient
Bigg's T073, T073D, T074.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
Transient Bigg's
Orca
May 30, 2015 – 5 photos
Tara Bladon,
Campbell River
UNIDENTIFIED
KILLER WHALES
May 31:
11:15 am: Orca
eastbound off Sooke, Vancouver Island.
12:18 pm: Report just
came in of a dead Orca 5 miles off the Leonard Lighthouse in Tofino.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 31:
12:09 pm: Five Orca 2
miles south of Ballenas Islands in the Strait of Georgia.
Cedric Towers,
Vancouver Whale Watch.
May 31:
3:56 pm: Eight plus
Killer Whales just left the log sort area in Kelsey Bay, northbound
in Johnstone Strait. Report from vessel “Night Drifter.”
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 28:
3:15 pm: Report of an
Orca or Humpback off Sentry Shoal on the NW side of Montgomery Bank
in the Strait of Georgia, one hour ago, northbound.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 26:
Saw
a huge pod of maybe 30-40 killer whales yesterday afternoon (May26)
off Bates beach north of Comox. Many big bulls mixed together with
cows and calfs. There is lots of springs salmon around, or there was!
So it looked like they were feeding, diving deep and working in large
circles.
Chris,
Crabby's Fishing Charters
May 26:
3:15 pm: On the ferry
from Comox to Powell River yesterday the Captain announced Orca to
starboard when we were maybe 15 minutes out of Comox. By the time I
saw them they were port side.
Deirdre Follett,
Powell River.
SOUTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Southern Resident
Killer Whales – J-Pod
May 30, 2015 – J50
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
SRKW photo sent in
by text for ID
May 30, 2015 – J17
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
June 2:
12:36 pm: Southern
Resident Killer Whales J pod came through Active Pass last night and
could be anywhere in the Strait now.
Cedric Towers,
Vancouver Whale Watch.
June 1:
9:15 pm: Southern
Resident Killer Whales L pod were off Tofino this afternoon, heading
east, two miles off Long Beach. Just going through the ID's.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 31:
3:56 pm: Southbound off
Point Grey with SRKW's J pod.
Cedric Towers,
Vancouver Whale Watch.
May 30:
1:45 pm Radio called in
to Susan MacKay from vessel “Orca Maru” to say that SRKW's J pod
was off the mouth of the Fraser River yesterday, possibly heading up
the Strait. They called from the bottom of Lasqueti Island. Found
out who it was:
Gary Sutton, 'Orca
Maru'
May 30:
2:41 pm: Orca off
Texada Island near Powell River. Couldn't help but notice the two
breaching whales :) Possibly Southern Resident Killer Whales J pod?
2:47 pm: There are at
least six Orca as far as I can see, foraging.
3:21 pm: The Orca are
now angling towards the gap between Harwood Island and Vivian Island.
There are at least 3 big males, with the smaller animal bringing up
the rear. Sounds more like Transient Bigg's Orca T02C's style.
3:34 pm: The main group
are now out of sight around the tip of Harwood Island. As I continued
to watch, I spotted a large Humpback Whale fluke as it dove, also
heading Northwest.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins B.C.
May 30:
4:18 pm: One group of
Orca off Vivian island and there's a larger group off towards Comox
on Vancouver Island.
4:22 pm: Figure 8 - 10
Orca total, all pointing towards Vancouver Island way and heading
slowly northwest.
4:36
pm: (Southern
Resident Killer Whales J-pod confirmed from photo Jos sent. S.M)
4:56 pm: SRKW's J pod
still heading northwest just west of Grant's reef, off Savary Island.
5:09 pm: Orca really
spread out widely between Mitlenatch Island and Comox. (There are
27 members total in J pod with the new babies, so the rest may be out
here too.- SM) They are really spread out over a five mile radius
and Orca everywhere, as well as a Humpback.
5:21 pm: Very cool to
be able to see SRKW J50 and his Mom! Leaving now, everyone still
north west bound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
Humpback Whale 'Zed'
BCX0380
May 30, 2015 – 2
photos
plus 1 photo of
'Arial' BCY0767
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 2:
Morning: Humpback whale
blows at the bottom of Grenville Channel, which is located between
Pitt Island and the mainland, south of Prince Rupert in the Inside
Passage.
Randy Hodge.
June 2:
12:40 pm: Humpback
whale at Tilly Point, at the SE entrance to to Bedwell Harbour and
Swanson Channel.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 30:
3:35 pm As I continued
to watch for more of J-Pod, I spotted a large Humpback Whale fluke as
it dove, also heading Northwest.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins B.C.
May 30:
8:00 pm: Two Humpback
whales by Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait, westing. (from photo
Nick texted ID confirmed as the Humpback we had during Powell River
SeaFair last Summer known as 'Zed' - SM)
8:05 pm: Leaving
Humpback whale known as “Zed” and companion foraging along the
west side of Mitlenatch island.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 29:
11:38 am: Report of a
Humpback whale at Turn Island, which is about one mile south of East
Thurlow Island in Discovery Passage.
3:11 pm: Radio report
of a Humpback whale at Willow Point, just south of Campbell River.
3:48 pm: On scene with
Humpback at Cape Mudge lighthouse, Quadra Island, northbound.
4:12 pm: Leaving the
scene at Cape Mudge Village northbound on the Quadra island side. The
Humpback is taking ten minute dives.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 29:
3:20 pm: Humpback whale
at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, northbound.
Jack Springer,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 29:
4:44 pm: Humpback now
at Whiskey Point on Quadra island northbound traveling at 3.5 knots
about 150 meters off shore.
Leigh Nelson,
Adventure Quest Tours
Humpback Whale –
'Arial' BCY0767
May 29, 2015 – 2
photos
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
June 2:
4:00 pm: Large group of
Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out from Jimmy Judd Island to
Horn Point, near Dent Rapids.
Leigh Nelson,
AdventureQuest Tours relayed by
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 1:
3:15 pm: 150 Pacific
White Sided Dolphin at Thurlow Point in Nodales channel, westing.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 31:
9:16 am: Pacific White
Sided Dolphins in Sutil Channel angling towards Rebecca Spit on
Quadra Island.
(from radio)
May 31:
10:10 am: One dozen
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Henrietta Bluff in Bute Inlet, mid
channel.
John Lewis,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 31:
10:38 am: About 150
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Lauren's Point and Henrietta
Point, in Bute Inlet.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 31:
1:12 pm: 4 Pacific
White Sided Dolphins in front of Campbell River.
3:35 pm: 100 Pacific
White Sided Dolphins at Lawrence Point in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 31:
4:42 pm: Leaving the
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Lawrence Point and Estero Bay,
Bute Inlet.
Jen Furst, Campbell
River Whale Watching.
May 30:
10:44 am: Sounds like
there are about 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at McMullen
Point, near Seymour Narrows, report from Jos.
1:47 pm: 40 Pacific
White Sided Dolphins milling at Moh Creek in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 28:
2:00 pm: Four Pacific
White Sided Dolphins at Hall Point, at the entrance to Nodales
Channel
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 27:
4:51 pm: Six Pacific
White Sided Dolphins easting by Brown's Bay, just north of Campbell
River, easting along the Vancouver Island shoreline.
John Lewis,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 27:
5:28 pm: Six Pacific
White Sided Dolphins mid channel at Seymour Narrows, easting.
Leigh Nelson,
Adventure Quest Tours.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
June 1:
3:02 pm: Thirty or more
Dall's Porpoise spread out and feeding at Horn Point, near Dent
Rapids.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 29:
1:47 pm: Four Dall's
Porpoise at Chatham Point, junction of Discovery Passage and
Johnstone Strait.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 29:
1:48 pm: About a dozen
Dall's Porpoise at Erasmus Island in Cordero Channel.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 28:
11:21 am: 10 Dall's
Porpoise at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 28:
4:30 pm: One lone
Porpoise just before Greene Point Rapids, between Cordero Islands and
West Thurlow Island
Randy.
May 27:
2:49 pm: Three Dall's
Porpoise off Hall Point, entrance to Nodales Channel, feeding.
John Lewis,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
June 2:
4:48 pm: Harbour
porpoise at Becher Bay, near East Sooke on Vancouver Island
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
May 29:
1:47 pm: Two Harbour
Porpoise at Chatham Point, at the junction of Johnstone Strait and
Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
LINKS
Whale
watchers on the West Coast are celebrating the confirmed sighting of
a fourth killer whale calf born to the endangered southern resident
population this year.
Please
note that L121 is NOT a new birth, but was born and reported
on in February as the 3rd birth in the Southern Resident
Killer Whale population.
Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society say Canada is not adequately protecting
it's
marine
ecosystems:
Rare
drone footage of twin Grey Whale calves!
Dead
and dying wildlife continue to wash ashore two weeks after the May 19
oil spill in California:
2015
Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get
your tickets in time for our EARLY
BIRD DRAW!
- June 21, 2015
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
