Have You Seen Any of These?
Showing posts with label burger and beer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burger and beer. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Special Update and Short Sightings Report: Killer Whales, Humpback Whales and Dall's Porpoise

This is a Special Update with a short Sightings Report Update below. There has been so much happening!

Society Workings Updates:
Our Web Site – We have made a huge update to our web site. We are now completely 'mobile friendly'! Google informed us that we were not mobile friendly and we had to make changes for them to continue to index us. We rely on their support and did a bit of hopping to fix issues which meant a total rework and update of the site itself. There are a few new and moved pages. Please drop us an email to let us know what you think.

Our Burger and Beer Night held March 10th at Savoury Bight Restaurant and Pub, Powell River – This was a huge success with incredible support from you and our incredible Sponsors (there is a new Sponsors Link on our web site) who donated to help us achieve the $1359.00, after our only cost, the cost of food, towards the purchase and installation of our live feed web camera and hydrophone system off Grief Point, Powell River. Based on the quote we received, would you be interested in joining us for another, buffet style this time? See next item below.
Web Camera and Hydrophone system – There is much communication and work behind the scenes to make every dollar we get from you count. Unfortunately, the first quote we received for the web camera alone was extremely excessive in our way of thinking. The quote came in on an Axis Q6044E MKII, camera only, at $6,043.60! We are continuing to work on finding a good fit in both quality and price. If anyone out there has an ideas or possible solutions, we welcome the input!

Mapping – We are working on getting some data ready to publish mapped information on the whereabouts of the whales, dolphins and porpoise sightings that are reported to us. This will be very visual using a satellite or graphic style map which you will be able to toggle.
2015 Fundraising Raffle – This is a Huge one, Bigger and Better, with a total of seven wildlife tours, Pacific Coastal flight, BC Ferries passes, Accommodation and a framed Award winning photo up for grabs. Details are available on line at: http://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/events-and-raffles-2/2015-raffle/
We will also be posting on Facebook as well as these Updates, the locations of ticket availability as soon as we have confirmation of dates, times and locations. We are working on locations in Campbell River, Sechelt and Powell River. Otherwise, ticket orders can be submitted on line. We use Paypal which allows for any credit card payments. You do not need a Paypal account.
Whales and Dolphins – Yes, there are a few Killer Whale sightings reports coming in, but mostly they have been elusive. Most sightings are distant without photos to help us establish if the whales are from Transient Bigg's (meat eaters) or Resident (fish eaters) pods. There is a report of a larger group of Dall's Porpoise in the back channels. We should also start seeing a Humpback Whales starting to back into the inside waters. There have been a few that have stayed just close to the bottom of Vancouver Island all winter, but none this year in the inside waters of the Georgia Strait.
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
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.


KILLER WHALES

Orca by Dryad Point Lighthouse
March 20, 2015
Mike Clarke, CCG, Victoria


Mar 24:
3:00 pm: 3 Orca westing past Camp Point, all females, one calf. Correction, there are four Orca, maybe one big fin.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Mar 23:
6:00 pm: There are Orca traveling in front of Scuttle Bay just south of Atrevida Reef and moving northwards towards Lund on the Sunshine Coast. Just saw one jump high. Looks like there are three at most. They seemed to stop and eat in front of Scuttle Bay, the one closest to Lund keeps jumping, so cool
Wendy Galligos, Powell River.
March 23:
8:00 pm: Orca in front of Campbell River. Five small fins northbound in front of Campbell River. One of our employees posted this.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Mar 22:
12:53 pm: Pod of Orca in front of Dryad Point Lighthouse. Dryad Point is on the northeast end of Campbell Island, just north of Bella Bella on the B.C. Mainland. (These are possibly Northern Resident Killer Whales, but the clarity of the clip makes it too difficult to be sure. A42's had been seen a while ago in the area. - SM)
Mike Clarke, CCG, Victoria
Mar 22:
12:00 pm: We were out diving on Snake Island off Nanaimo when we spotted a small pod of about 4 or so Orca heading from the Protection Island area towards Gabriola Island and around the northern point of the Island.
Brian Timmer. VIU Dive Club.
Mar 19:
Today a friend of mine posted a photo of whales off shore at Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island. There were three of them, in one of the photos you can see them blowing. So exciting. Perhaps I will go on a short road trip tomorrow.
Linda, Parksville
Mar 18:
2:00 pm: I saw these around 2:00 pm on March 18 off the north end of Qualicum Beach public area on Vancouver Island. It looked like a mom, her “teenager,” and if you look by her fin you can see the baby's face. They seemed to be heading a bit towards the mainland…fairly east, but they did swim south a bit before I lost sight of them.
Linda Vermeulen, Fanny Bay.
Orca off Qualicum Beach
March 18, 2015
Linda Vermeulen, Fanny Bay
March 18:
12:15 pm Third hand report of Orca by Black Point, Powell River. They're Northbound.
Around 12:40 pm I drove down to Grief Point and spotted one big male dorsal, a female and possibly a calf just off Myrtle Rocks. The sea lions were right in by the shore feeding on the herring spawn. I think the Orca were already on a kill and turned back or went across to Texada. After seeing them four to six times, I never saw them again although I watched for them to pass. There was a very cold, strong wind blowing creating waves.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Mar 17:
Just saw Orca in Parksville Bay, just off my street, Dogwood Bay. Exciting. That was late this morning. They were still there when I went back after lunch, seemed like they were moving north, not sure. There were four of them.
Linda K. Derksen. Parksville.
Mar 16:
Late report from a ferry worker that there were Orca northbound past Campbell River at 9:30 am.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

March 16:
12:00 pm: It's always exciting to see an Orca pod but this one was especially exciting because it had a baby! There were three of us who saw the pod. They were in Discovery Passage, off Campbell River, and they were traveling south.
Heather Bojsza.
HUMPBACK WHALES
March 18:
Thanks to Randy Hodge for sending in this video of a Humpback Whale sighted in Puget Sound, off Carkeek Park. Filmed by Alisa Lemire Brooks. We aren't certain if these are Humpbacks that stayed in the area over winter, or are ones returning to our waters.
 
DALL'S PORPOISE
Mar 16:
2:34 pm: Bunch of Dall's Porpoise around Kanish Bay area, Quadra Island, there are four bow riding and more behind.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
LINKS

Three lovely videos of Humpback Whales seen earlier this year in Maui. It's great to have people submit videos of interest to us and you!


Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society




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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, Orca, Dolphins and Porpoise

Orca have been making short appearances in the Powell River – Campbell River and Comox areas. We only know for certain that some of them were actually Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Killer Whales. We have heard that our usual Northern Resident pod known as the A42's – the ones that were in the viral video rubbing on the beach and including A103, Albion, the calf born Dec. 2012, were seen quite a distance up the coast close to Bella Bella. The question is who are all the ones spotted around here? We have also had many pods of Pacific White Sided Dolphins seen between Texada and Jervis inlet.

Our Burger and Beer Night fundraiser is coming up and hope that all those close by can make the March 10th date at the Savoury Bight Restaurant and Pub at Beach Gardens, Grief Point, Powell River. We have numerous Door prizes and Toonie Toss prizes. It's going to be a fun night for all starting at 5pm to make it easy for families to join us. The cost is $15 for Burger (beef or veggie) with Fries, and a Beer (or wine). Kids can always share the Burger and fries while the adults enjoy the beer or wine! The net proceeds are going towards the live web camera and hydrophone we are setting up off Grief Point to look and listen towards Myrtle Rocks where we have a fair bit of Whale activity. This is the first of a series of web cameras we have in the works, so all of your support is greatly appreciated. And, you do need to eat, right? Come join us!
Our prizes include: Mother Nature Plants & Pets, Paparazzi Pizza, Snickers Restaurant, Powell River Complex Concession, Thaidal Zone Restaurant, Westview U-Brew, Colin James, Springtime Garden Center, and MORE!
A huge thank your to Savoury Bight Restaurant and Pub & all our donors for sponsoring this event!
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
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.



T086s Baby popping up for a breath
February 25, 2014 – 3 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Feb 26:
9:42 am: There have been numerous sightings of Transient Bigg's Killer Whales all up and down Johnstone Strait over the last couple of weeks.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.

Feb 25:
9:20 am: Four Orca sort of milling just south of the viewpoint at Powell River. They're really close to shore.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River

Feb 25:
9:30 am approx. Had grabbed gear and was off the dock in record time determined to find out who we had out here! Picked up 5 Orca just off the Powell River mill cutting between the draggers who had followed me out of the harbour and were just setting nets. Then the other 4 Orca popped up closer to Harwood Island. They were on a definite track up the coast.
10:26 am: Leaving 9 Orca heading towards Mystery Reef off Savary Island northwest bound.
4:50 pm: Finally got through photos. I could only confirm the Transient Bigg's T86A's. Don't know who the others were and didn't see T87 with them. Got great baby photo!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Feb 25:
9:30 am: We live a few blocks above the Westview Powell River Ferry Terminal. I looked out the kitchen window this morning and saw Killer Whales. There were about six of them, not sure, and they were about 100 meters off the Powell River shoreline, traveling towards Lund. There were two Draggers about another 200 meters away from shore. No other boats or wildlife nearby. Exciting stuff!
Dan Tatham, Powell River.

Feb 25:
12:37 pm: Two Orca, possibly a Mom and calf or juvenile, spotted on the north side of Savary island crossing towards False Pass between Hernando Island and Savary.
Gordie Coles, Savary Island / Lund.



T086s and Friends
February 25, 2014 – 3 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
these are presumed to be Transient Bigg's Orca

Mar 3:
8:05 am: About 5 Orca including one big fin on the Vancouver Island side of Texada Island, southbound.
Steve Grover, Powell River.

March 3:
9 – 9:35 am: I watched a few blows from the Orca after the call from Steve. They were doing long dives going back and forth about half way between Coho Point and Rebecca Rocks, off Powell River. Then suddenly after a long gap I spotted them angling towards Powell River by Harwood Island. After grabbing gear I thought before rushing out to see who these Orca were, I'd best see their current location.....not a blow or dorsal to be seen till 10:30 am! Unfortunately, I had more computer work, so although the ocean was calling, work took priority over searching for these elusive Orca. No other reports came in, so they stayed elusive.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Mar 2:
7:30 am: Report from a ferry worker of 10 Orca southbound by Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island. One large fin and a couple of young ones in the group.
8:15 am: I can see them just coming up from We Wai Kai Village on Quadra Island, favouring the Quadra side of the Strait. I'm on the ferry.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Feb 28:
11:20 am: Orca mid Strait between Comox-Powell River. From Lucy who works in our office and is watching from the ferry!
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.

February 20:
9:19 am: Five Orca, one really huge one, northbound by Albion Point in Powell River.
(Caller did not leave name.)

Rec'd March 3:
3 weeks ago 9 Orcas passed right in front of our sailboat between Texada and Harwood Island. Since then I heard, that they are still around in this area. Last week they were seen around Myrtle Point near Powell River. Have a nice sunny day!
Monique Labusch, Powell River

Orca while sailing Powell River
Photo Monique Labusch, Powell River

NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Feb 26: Report of a Resident pod hanging out around Blind Channel, between West and East Thurlow Islands, over the past 2 weeks. From a trusted source.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.


PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
March 1:
7:08 am: If anyone is up – there are two pods of Dolphins off Donkersley and between the area of Patrick Road to Black Point in Powell River. Huge pod headed north, smaller one still off Black point. (via Facebook)
Kimmy Faerie, Powell River.

March 1:
9:00 am: Report of a couple of groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.
11:59 am: Now there is another group of around 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphns foraging back and forth by Myrtle Rocks.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River

February 28:
Around 11:45 am 80 plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins were headed past Saltery Bay, Texada side of the Strait towards Jervis Inlet. They were spotted off Kent's Beach, south of Powell River.
Lynn Webster, Powell River

HARBOUR PORPOISE
Feb 27:
2:10 pm: About seven or eight Harbour Porpoise, very small dark dorsals off the viewpoint in Powell River.
Andrew Bryant, Powell River

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales T086s with Calf
February 25, 2014 – 1 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images

LINKS:

Excellent news! A third baby for the highly endangered Southern Residents; two related news stories below:

The Raincoast Conservation Foundatiion on what is needed to better protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/02/27/4155907/survival-of-endangered-orcas-in.html

M.P Don Davies raises questions about the Governments apparent inability to put a stop to the shipping of whale meat through this country:

And a disturbing look at the hunting and capture of Beluga Whales in Russia:

Rec'd February 25th:
Taken around the Bella Bella, Hunter Channel area February 22, 2014 (see previous report). Video clip from Derek Stewart:

To add a bit of humour: There has never been an Orca attack in the wild for those of you wondering about this fake, funny clip:

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society



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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Killer Whales, Dolphins and Burger and Beer Night info

Reports of Orca that seem to appear in numbers then disappear. With the calm waters, you'd think it would be difficult to lose track of them, but it happens. In the meantime, Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been having some good feeding runs in the Georgia Strait while putting on a show for some lucky fishermen. In front of Powell River, we have three commercial draggers operating, so I don't anticipate Cetaceans in the close proximity, unfortunately. We also have a great Humpback Whale report from Hawaii. It's always exciting to receive reports from farther afield.

For those of you in the Powell River area, or planning to be: Our Burger and Beer Night tickets will be available at our information table in the Town Center Mall, in front of The Brick, on Saturday, February 28th. We'll have Whale and Dolphin photos and video clips running on a 60” TV screen, courtesy The Brick. The Burger (beef or veggie) and Beer (or wine) tickets are $15 each. The event is being sponsored by the Savoury Bight Restaurant and Pub at Beach Gardens, who also have tickets available. This is a fundraiser for our First permanent Live Web Camera and Hydrophone system installation. We have many great Toonie Toss and Door Prizes, all donated to help us raise the funds needed. We look forward to seeing you there!
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
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Emailyour report.


UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Feb 22:
2 pm Approx. I was paddling north in Hunter Channel (15 km. from Bella Bella) and a family of Orcas was heading south. We watched them approach and then move on to the south for 30 minutes or so. The male(?) had a very tall dorsal and came within 20 m. and between us two Kayakers while the other adult and what appeared to be two young stayed well to our port. The calves played, breached and splashed with the mother(?) close at hand. Very enthralling and humbling for us humans on a bright, sunny day, glassy calm sea. I was too excited to work my camera.
I managed to do a screen capture from the few seconds of video that I have of the male Orca. Derek, my paddling partner has a few seconds of one of the calves breaching. His kayak was about 15-20 m astern of the whale! (video clip not submitted - SM)

Video Frame Capture of Orca
February 22, 2015
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella

Here's a few more details….Date – Sun., Feb. 22 at approx. 2:00 pm Weather – sun, windless, approx 10 deg Celsius.
4 Orca – family grouping by all appearances – 3 together were perhaps mother and 2 calves; 1 separated from group and had a very tall, pointed dorsal fin. He swam between me and my paddling partner and surfaced astern of us. The entire group travelled from North to South in Hunter Channel at a leisurely pace. As I watched them into the distance I could see the male keeping to centre of the channel and the other 3 staying closer to the Campbell Island shore.
There has been several sea lions in the Bella Bella/ Lama Pass vicinity for several weeks. We spotted 2 close to shore in Hunter Channel shortly after the Orcas passed us.
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella.

Feb 22:
9:00 am: A friend reported Orca off the Comox ferry, no numbers, no direction given.
Grant Rainsley.

Feb 22:
3:53 pm: About fourteen Killer Whales Southbound in Discovery Passage by Brown's Bay, Vancouver Island.
(from radio)

Feb 22: The Orca passed us. We got to Seymour Narrows at 5:10 pm and spoke to someone who said they were southbound one and a half hours ago. So we turned south and burned to Cape Mudge, but they were gone. A friend posted on my wall that at around 5:10 pm they were somewhere by the Big Rock...so close!
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

Feb 15:
5:42 pm: Reports from a friend fishing the Hump that there are 50 plus Orca with 5 or more babies heading north in Discovery Passage. The Hump is just south of Cape Mudge on the Vancouver Island side of Quadra Island.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.

HUMPBACK WHALES

Feb 20:
Message from Maui! Hey, it's wild, there are Humpbacks! Lunging and breaching so close to shore. Honestly, I could have been paddle boarding or swimming right where they were. Every day like this. Have never seen them so close. You should come here for Professional Development!
Feb 21: Got another amazing show yesterday afternoon at about 4:00 p.m our time. Like non-stop antics! Couldn't have paid for a better seat on a boat. We sat with many others sipping our cocktails and KABOOM out flies a Humpback, then another and another...
Lorraine Redpath, Sayward.

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Feb 19:
1:17 pm: About one hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Blubber Bay, on Texada Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

February 19:
3 pm About 50 dolphins seen heading SE past Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. They were moving along fast, then stopped and milled around, with seagulls overhead, then they quickly headed off again in the same direction.
Holly Roy, Powell River

Feb 17:
11:50 am: Dolphins one half mile south of Albion Point, Powell River. There were approximately 50 of them heading east into the fog bank.
Laura Johnson, Powell River


Pacific White Sided Dolphins
February 17, 2015 – 2 photos
Laura Johnson, Powell River

February 17:
I saw what I believe was a large group of dolphins about 4:30 this afternoon. I was on Palm Beach and they were over by Northeast Point and lighthouse on Texada Island. Through binoculars I could see lots of splashing and could barely make out bodies lunging just above the surface but no high leaps. Dozens of splashes at a time. They were centred around the lighthouse and I viewed them for 10 minutes or so then they disappeared.
Terry L. Brown, Palm Beach, Lang Bay, south of Powell River.

Feb 17:
On Monday afternoon (yesterday 16th) there were Dolphins going south past the Donkersley Beach/Black Point area. I was woken up by Eagles and Sea Gulls this morning, looked out at the sunrise and saw possibly the same pod of Dolphins playing/feeding out front in Donkersley Beach, then they headed north again.
Kimmy Faerie, Powell River.

Feb 16:
5:00 pm: I saw between 7 – 15 Dolphins in Howe Sound offshore from White Cliff Park, West Vancouver.
Naomi Gould. West Vancouver.

Feb 15:
1:54 pm: 60 – 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Grant's Reef, off Savary Island.
2:54 pm: They are now headed towards Mitlenatch Island in Georgia Strait and in the direction of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Radio

February 15:
2:30 – 3:30 pm Around 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Grant's Reef and towards Savary Island. There was lots of jumping totally out of the water. Then they'd create a bunch of white caps. They were a bit farther off from us fishing, then they headed towards Mitlenatch Island.
Jeff Winter, Powell River


LINKS

In a deeply retrogressive move, China looks at buying Orca from Russia for captive entertainment purposes.

The death of a Beluga whale at Sealand brings more attention to the many issues surrounding captive whales:

A very lucky break for a Humpback off the coast of Hawaii as it is freed from entangling fishnets after an epic eight day struggle to save it's life:

Nothing to do with whales, but this amazing encounter between a Harbour Seal and an Octopus in the waters off Victoria, British Columbia is well worth reading and seeing.

And a proposed increase to protected habitat for Right whales in the Atlantic. A step in the Right direction?

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society

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