Humpback Whale, Transient Orcas, Resident Orca Updates

Another great day to be on the water. Reports include one large Humpback Whale and around twelve Transient Orca. Farther South there was a Superpod of Southern Resident Orca by Active Pass and farther North-West there were reports of Northern Residents making an appearance in Johnstone Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

July 8:
8:47 am Large Humpback Whale blow spotted just West of Mitlenatch Island heading Southward. By 9:15 am the Humpback Whale was down by Sentry Shoal still Southbound.
There were a few tours out there including AJ from Painter's Lodge


July 8:
Another great Transient Orca Day.

9:05 am 4 Orca by Kanish Bay just above Campbell River heading North-West.
Jeff, Painter's Lodge

Reports came in that there were up to 12 Transient Orca around Deep Water Bay - the tours were looking.
Most radio reception broke off since the tours wound up in the inlets and traveled as far as Kelsey Bay in Johnstone Strait.

5:30 pm 8 Transient Orca including a calf were between Savary Island and Lund heading towards Powell River.
Dulcie Macdonald, Savary Island

6:30 pm 4 Adult Transient Orca and one calf had been splashing about on a possible kill between the East side of Harwood Island and the Mainland. They were headed southward towards the Powell River Mill and Ferry Terminal but took a long dive. (While on the phone, we located the Whales again as they got closer to the Ferry Terminal - SM)
Terry Brown & Jude Abrams (spelling?) aboard the SV Blue Parrot

7:20 pm Difficult to prepare dinner while watching the perfectly lit blows from the 10 to 12 Orca as they cruised past Westview towards Grief Point. Dinner guests and I enjoyed the show.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

July 8: Northern Resident Orca
Reports that a few pods of Northern Resident Orca came into the upper Johnstone Strait area today and late in the day, headed back out towards the West.

Southern Resident Orca

Following reports submitted by: Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

July 7:

About 7:20 this evening, 20+ orcas went east through Active Pass. As they entered the Pass, their poofs were nicely backlit. The tide was running so fast that they just zoomed by us. It was the fastest whale show ever!

Karoline Cullen, Galiano Island, BC, Cullen Photos

July 7

The rumors of a superpod have been confirmed.  For about 45 minutes this morning, orcas paraded by, headed north.  While some were porpoising their way north either single file or in small groups, others were headed north at slower speeds but in larger groups. In the middle of all the porpoising action, there was a small resting group.  Meanwhile, some orcas were lying on their backs, slapping their tails.  I believe I saw some Js, some Ks, and some Ls -- too many to count.  Some were closer to shore, but others were probably nearly a mile off shore.
Later this afternoon I started hearing vocalizations on the OrcaSound hydrophone.  It appeared that there were orcas lingering west of Kellett Bluff. A few other orcas were porpoising from the south. 
Jane Cogan, San Juan Island, WA

Transient Orcas, Porpoises, Dolphins and Dusty the Gray Whale

As I started typing this there were Transient Orca right out in front with their blows highlighted by the sun as the head towards Grief Point. A great end to a great day on the water with eleven people from the Malaspina Naturalist Group out on a "Whale Seeking" tour that found two groups of Transient Orca, Dall's Porpoises and some black bears, including one taking a nap on a rocky outcropping above the water. The sun came out and the water was calm. Sightings follow below. No time to post photos today.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC


June 11:
8 pm 5 Transient Orca (same ones from earlier in the day) by Atrevida Reef then Harwood Island then Westview, Powell River heading Southward towards Grief Point. Looked like they had a snack when they were closer to Harwood Island.
I received a couple of "can you see them" calls thanks to John & Joan T. and Steve G.

June 11:
6 pm Received an update via Jack, Campbell River Whale Watching that Jen saw Dusty the Gray Whale in Seymout Narrows heading Northward. Earlier in the day, around 2 pm, someone over the radio said there was a Gray Whale out in front of the Rona Store in Campbell River. Sounds funny, but that the landmark close to shore - SM

June 11:
5:30 pm 30+ Pacific White Sided Dolphins were just outside of Okisollo Channel into Discovery Channel bow and wake riding.
Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

June 11:
2:30 pm and 3 pm reports of Orca by Savary Island, Mace Point then closer to the Iron Mines on the mainland side. Looked like they were heading in a Northerly direction. (These were the same Transient whales that were seen earlier in the day as well as the ones that headed South this evening. - SM)

June 11:
Lots of Dall's Porpoises: Between 2:20 pm and 3 pm we had various small groups of Dall's Porpoise. Some came by to bow ride for a short run close to Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel, then another two were spotted by Rendezvous Islands and another 5 zipped about as we started to head down Whale Channel (or is that Whale Passage? - SM).

June 11:
Two Transient Orca Encounters with the same group: After entering Bute Inlet, 1 pm we saw the second group of 5 Transient Orca headed against the tidal rapids at Arran Rapids. As Jack put it "an Orca Jacuzzi" with the whirlpools running. They were taking their time going through, when a little Harbour Seal drifted in, never noticing that he was headed straight into these meat hunters. The orca had their snack. The whales made it through the narrows, down past Sonora Lodge then turned back up into Bute Inlet to do it again. Around 2:45 pm they took, in spectacular fashion, I'm told, a Harbour Porpoise, again in Arran Rapids. These Orca were left still up in that area when Garry left them.
Reports from Susan MacKay out on Campbell River Whale Watching boat and Garry from Aboriginal Journeys

June 11:
9:30 am 5 Transient Orca just South of Twin Islands and Baker Pass between Cortez and Hernando Islands. We watched as they breached, tail lobbed and rested. There were a few vocals in between boat noise. They were between Powell Islets and Bliss Landing, by the Copeland (Ragged - local name) Islands when we left then still slowly working towards Sarah Point around 11:30 am.

June 11:
9:20 am a Harbour Porpoise was spotted by Squirrel Cove, Cortez Island just before we heard the Orca were behind us and we turned back to locate them.

June 10:
Late Report that around 12 Orca were Southbound down by Black Point, south of Powell River late in the day. (This is unconfirmed, but looking at the photos of yesterday's whales, they are different Transients than the ones from today - SM)