Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, 1000 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise

Probable Transient Bigg's Killer Whales chasing Pacific White Sided Dolphins around Texada Island and just before posting time, today's sighting of more probable Transients. Rounding out the Cetacean sightings, it's nice to get a report about Harbour Porpoise too. They always seem to be forgotten, yet are such a valuable indicator of our environment.

On another note; the automatic emails to subscribers is in final test stage and if all goes well, should be working by the next report.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

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Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

UNCONFIRMED BUT MOST LIKELY

Orca by Vancouver Island

February 12, 2014

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

February 12:

5:00 pm: There are 4 or 5 Orca southbound along the Vancouver Island side, by the Anchor Inn in Campbell River. There is at least one big fin. I took some pictures from Quadra Island, about two miles away, but I am pretty sure the big fellow is T19b.

Actually it looks like two big fins!

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

February 9:

7:44 am: There are 3 Killer whales off Van Anda, Texada Island, heading south.

Geord, Texada Water Taxi / Discovery Marine Safaris

Orca by Vancouver Island

February 12, 2014

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

February 9:

11:45 am: Orca Network have reported a large gang of supposedly 30 Killer Whales off the south end of Hornby Island about 2 hours ago. The report said that the sea lions were all out of the water and the whales were split into two groups with long dives occurring. I bet these are Transients (Bigg's) – maybe some of the Nanaimo ones?

Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Note: The Orca report of February 9 off VanAnda that may have caused these Dolphins to run. SM

February 9:

8:20 am There is a massive pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Albion Point, (aka Black Point)

They are moving fast. I've never seen a group that large! The water is frothing from them moving Southbound in a hurry. Most of them are closer to Texada with a couple close to the mainland side of the Strait. What a sound! I can't see them now (I was on the phone with Bill – SM) but I can still hear them. They must be by Scotch Fir Point by now – really moving!

Bill Taylor, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins from Ferry

February 9, 2014

Steve Grover, Powell River

February 9:

8:35 am: Large group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins off the North-east point of Texada Island, heading south. Hope you saw them in your area!

Laura Johnson, Powell River

February 9:

9:50 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins have rounded the corner and are just passing the Saltery Bay Ferry Terminal (Sunshine Coast) and are heading up the inlet towards Jervis. There are hundreds and hundreds! Largest group I've ever seen. We've been watching for 10 – 15 minutes straight and they're still coming up in a steady stream. There are probably around 1000 of them.

Athena Tansky, Powell River

February 9:

Crossing on the 10 am run: As I mentioned here are a couple shots from the Queen of Chilliwack of Pacific White-sided dolphins heading towards Jervis Inlet. The larger group of about 100 animals was pretty far away and then about 20 minutes a few stragglers came by closer to the ship. It was a glorious day to be out on the water even if it was a B.C. Ferry.

Steve Grover, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins from Ferry

February 9, 2014

Steve Grover, Powell River

HARBOUR PORPOISE

February 8:

10:00 am: Two small Porpoise off Point Atkinson, in Burrard Inlet. We were bringing a boat up to Powell River.

Robert Johnson

LINKS IN THE NEWS

February 11: Sad news. A group of nine orca stranded fatally yesterday on a Southland beach in New Zealand. As there are fewer than 200 Orca living off New Zealand's coast this represents a significantly large part of the population. The Department of Conservation has removed one of the dead whales as part of their investigation into the beaching. Link to the complete story below:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/9712483/Orca-stranding--tragedy

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society

Cetacean Sightings: Humpbacks, Dolphins, Orca, Porpoise and Minke

Many days of fog limited sightings of even the water, let alone Cetaceans. Of the Whales and Dolphins seen, there have been many Humpback Whale sightings in our inside waters. How wonderful to have these amazing animals in our midst. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are also around in numbers while the Transient Bigg's Killer Whale sightings have dropped significantly. Dall's Porpoise bring up the rear in this report. Where are the Resident Orca? They are overdue for making an appearance in the central Georgia Strait; sightings have been limited everywhere.

I apologize for the delay in posting this report. As many of you know, my hand injury has restricted the amount of computer usage I can manage at a time, and even though I had help with compiling some of the information to October 22^nd, other matters had taken priority.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable

TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

T11's mom and son, Race Rocks

October 12, 2013

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic

October 26:

2:20 pm 2 Orca went through Skookumchuck Narrows into Sechelt Inlet; 1 bull 1 female.

Radio

October 20:

3:30 pm Report of Orca just west of Cordero Lodge, behind Lorte Island on Cordero Channel. No numbers or direction, from Blind Channel Water Taxi.

Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.

October 12: (rec'd 17:)

2:30 pm The T11's mom and son seen here, Race Rocks around 2.30pm, Saturday Oct 12/13 heading west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic

HUMPBACK WHALES

BCZ004, otherwise known as “Stripe”

October 14, 2013

Ray Hogan

October 29:

8:50 am 2 or 3 Humpback Whales between Vivian Island and Rebecca Rocks. Saw backs and lots of bird activity from the Comox ferry.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

October 28:

11:00 am 2 Humpback Whales spotted from the ferry moving toward Saltery Bay just now.

Dulcie Macdonald, Savary Island

October 26:

2:20 pm 3 Humpback Whales off the Earl's Cove ferry terminal.

Radio

October 25:

Throughout the Day: You might be interested to know last Friday 25th Oct, as many as 17 Humpback whales were seen in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Any where between 9-13 on a daily basis seems to be the order of the day around the Salish Sea. With so few sightings of the Southern Resident Orca this season, it is wonderful to know that the Humpback Whales are finding enough small schooling fish to stick around here. Wonderful. The singing Humpback whales in the Johnstone Strait area too this past month have been amazing. Who would know they would sing in this area as well as on their breeding grounds, Mexico and Hawaii. Looks like we have our own population of Humpback whales that just travel up and down this coast line. Seems the whales are rewriting the tell-all-books ! ;-)

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca Magic

October 19th:

4:30 pm Two Humpback Whales, mother and calf, meandering / feeding /slapping pectorals west of Hardy Island headed toward Scotch Fir Point.

Kerry and Becky Williams-Freeman, Powell River

October 17:

4:15 pm Had a Humpback at the mouth of Pendrell Sound, East Redonda Island. One breach and a tail fluke and not seen again.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

October 17:

Day: I was out today and saw at least 7 Humpback whales near Race Rocks, off Victoria. Amazing come back for this area of these magnificent whales.

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic

October 16:

3:30 pm 3 Humpback Whales 1 large 2 smaller near Bald Island at the end of Hardy Island, Malaspina Strait towards Texada.

Mel Lougheed

Humpback Mom and Calf

October 14, 2013

Ray Hogan

October 14:

11:30 am about 5 Humpbacks feeding at Northwest Texada just south of the tip. I have attached 4 photos of them.

Ray Hogan

(Ray, Thought you might like to know that the one whose underside of tail flukes I could see is well known. Officially BCZ004, otherwise known as “Stripe.” She had a calf this year, so the Mom and Calf would most likely be them. - SM)

October 14:

4 pm 2 Humpback Whales seen from the Comox ferry about half hour out from Little River towards Rebecca Rocks, Powell River.

Brenda Currie, Powell River

October 12: (rec'd 17^th)

1 pm Here's a Humpback whale seen same day as the T11's Saturday Oct 12th/13 near Albert Head , Metchosin, 1pm, heading in every direction. Do you recognize this one? (On quick look through my ID's I couldn't locate this one, but will take another look later - SM)

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic

Humpback Whale

October 12, 2013

Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic

MINKE WHALES

October 21:

1:45 pm Minke whale sighted off NW Texada.

Ivan, Western Explorer.

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

October 19, 2013

Steve Grover, Powell River

October 29:

8:45 am 12 or so PWS Dolphins foraging off Blubber Bay, Texada Island. Seen from Comox ferry.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

October 29:

4:20 pm about 50 (that we saw) Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling north between Galiano island (Cain beach) and Gossip island. BTW, my husband claims that there were over 100 - he was there first.

Carolyn Gill

October 22:

4:33 pm There are a couple dozen PWS Dolphins by Hole in the Wall off Okisollo Channel in between Sonora and Maurelle Islands.

Ivan, Western Explorer.

October 21:

1:15 pm 100 or so PWS Dolphins by Mowat Bay, on Texada Island.

Ivan, Western Explorer.

October 19:

12:30 pm 100 plus PWS Dolphins in front of Powell River now.

1:45 pm Another couple of hundred PWS Dolphins off the NW tip of Texada northbound. Could see them with the binoculars leaping around.

2:00 pm The first group are down to around 80 and still off the viewpoint in Powell River. They are still foraging with the occasional leap.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

October 19:

1:40 pm There are 40 or so PWS Dolphins out in front of the Westview Ferry Terminal/Sea Walk in Powell River as I write this. Viewed with a 'scope from my home.

3:00 pm Those dolphins are still out there, one and a half hours after my last note. They appear to be feeding, doing zig zags backwards and forwards, a minute or two on each lap. Lots of breaching. Unfortunately a bit too far from shore for my camera, even with my 600 mm, else that's where I'd be, instead of watching with my 'scope!

Paul den Ouden, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

October 19, 2013

Steve Grover, Powell River

October 19:

1:30 – around 4 pm 100+ PWS Dolphins Here are a few shots from my dolphin watching from the kayak adventure this afternoon. It is sure hard to see them when your eyes are only 2' above the water. After paddling about 15 minutes I spotted them about 1000 meters + in the Malaspina Strait towards the north end of Texada Island. 3 dolphins came fairly close to me and swam under my kayak at least once but it was cool seeing the whole pod foraging nearby too. They make quite a bit of noise breathing and splashing! The light was not great but the sea was pretty calm and it was the first time I ever took out the kayak to try and photograph dolphins. I'm calling this one a success since I got a few shots and didn't tip over!

Steve Grover, Powell River

October 19:

3:30 pm There is a group of PWS Dolphins moving back and forth in front of the harbour at Powell River.

Heather Harbord, Powell River

October 18:

1:40 pm -500 PWS Dolphins off Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.

Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.

October 14:

1:29 pm 100 plus PWS Dolphins have been feeding off Myrtle Rocks for the past 40 minutes.

Holly Roy, Powell River

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

October 19, 2013

Steve Grover, Powell River

DALL'S PORPOISE

October 25:

5:10 pm 3 Dall's Porpoise off the NW tip of Texada Island foraging and heading South. Seen from Comox Ferry.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

October 25:

5:13 pm 30 Dall's Porpoise feeding by Hall Point, Nodales Channel.

Lee, Adventure Quest

October 20:

3:30 pm About 12 Dall's porpoise foraging in Phillip's Arm, north of Bute Inlet.

Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.

October 17:

2:30 pm A solitary Dall's porpoise sighted in Current Passage between Helmken and Hardwicke Islands. Just rolling slowly northward.

Lynne Cracknell, Sayward

October 17:

4:00 pm 2 Dall's Porpoise sighted in Waddington Channel, between East and West Redonda Islands.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

Whales and Dolphins BC is officially the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Powell River Transient Orca, Dolphins and Porpoise

Transient Orca, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall's Porpoise Reports. The Transients known as the T02's with the young calf split off from some of the others and finally made it back in front of Powell River. The Dolphins were keeping their distance from where Orca were reported, and the Dall's were busy foraging.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transient Orca – Killer Whales

Transient Orca – Ferry Queen of Burnaby

Westview, Powell River

June 4, 2012

Steve Grover

June 4:

4:12 pm Orca including one male with a very large dorsal are slowly Northbound in front of our place. (Westview, Powell River)

Ted Douglas, Powell River

June 4:

4:30 pm Getting out on the water quickly with neighbour Steve Grover, we found the 5 Transient Orca, the T02's on some food just off the Powell River mill. They ate with seagulls picking up leftover bits then headed slowly towards the SW tip of Harwood. For a while they looked like they were going to go to Rebecca Rocks, but finally picked up the pace to around 4 knots exiting the area half way between the two heading NW towards Sentry Shoal. We thought the big male possibly reappeared with the rest between Rebecca and Harwood. We could only confirm 4 animals including the calf as they travelled by Harwood.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transient Orca – Rebecca Rocks

June 4, 2012

Steve Grover, Powell River

June 3:

1:15 pm Hi Susan, Just had a report from our neighbor in Willow Point, Campbell River that he saw 5 or so Orcas heading North near the Cape Mudge Lighthouse. He saw them about 45 mins ago. We're going for a drive to see if we can catch up to them somewhere for photographs :)

Later: No, we didn't see them :( Drove up to Brown's Bay for the afternoon hoping to see them, but no such luck. Also, we originally thought our neighbor saw the orcas from his house, but they were in fact seen from Painter's Lodge, heading North. Cheers,

Tara Bladon, Campbell River

June 3:

11:26 am 8 to 12 Transient Orca by Orange Point, Campbell River southbound. They're the T101's spread out by the river and Quathiaski Cove hunting. Stayed with them till 12:08 pm by the red can buoy. They split up; the T02's with the young calf heading down along the Vancouver Island side and the T101's heading mid strait angling towards Mitlenatch Island at around 8 to 10 knots. (Pretty fast - SM)

Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 3:

8:30 pm Looks like some of the Orca turned and are heading Northward by Cape Mudge and back up by Campbell River.

Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

Transient Orca - Campbell River

June 3, 2012
Jack Springer, Hurricane Jack

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

June 3:

11:26 am Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Lewis Channel; no direction. By 12:51 they were by Evans Bay, across from Cortez Island.

Harley to Jack Springer

Dall's Porpoise

June 4:

11:22 am 20 Dall's Porpoise Westbound in Nodales Channel.

Scotty, Painter's Lodge

June 3:

3 pm About 6 Dall's Porpoise at Hall Point by Frederick Arm just foraging

Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

 

2012 Charter Cruises

Enjoy a personalized week long Charter Cruise in the pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. Information can be found on the 2012 Charter Cruises pages of Whales and Dolphins BC.

Lone Orca by Powell River Plus

It's the first time in a over a year that I've seen a lone Orca. They are social animals, so there are generally other whales around at the same time. Transient Orca T14, born in 1969 was known for frequently travelling alone, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him for around one year. The last few sightings of him, he was with other whales. Few more sightings reports of Southern Resident Orca, Transients, and photos of the Orca by Cape Mudge follow.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Killer Whales

Northbound Orca by Cape Mudge

6 pm March 7, 2012

photo: Susan Randall

March 11:

10:20 am Caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of something dark in the water. Managed to get the binoculars on this one large male Orca surfacing for three more big breaths before the Texada ferry rounded the light off Blubber Bay. For 20 minutes, I kept scanning the whole area off Westview, Powell River for signs of the same or other whales, but never saw another dorsal or blow. He did a bit of a direction change initially heading towards Rebecca Rocks, but I can't even confirm that he didn't turn back South-East. Amazing how stealthy a large animal can be!

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Northbound Orca by Cape Mudge

6 pm March 7, 2012

photo: Susan Randall

March 6:

2 + Orca were tight to shore close to Earl's Cove heading towards Egmont, Sechelt Inlet. They were spotted from the ferry.

Parsla Robertson

Additional third hand reports came in of two other sightings around either the last couple of days of February or first couple of days of March of at least 4 Orca also seen from the Earl's Cove to Saltrey Bay ferry. I hope to receive details directly from the observers and will pass the information on.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Following Sightings Reports submitted by: Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

March 6
J pod near Porlier Pass, Trincomali Channel (25-30 miles southeast of Nanaimo) 1400 hrs.
Ron Bates

March 6

I found J Pod after a lot of searching at the mouth of Porlier Pass in rough seas. They were entering Georgia Strait and I left them pointed for Bowen Island.
Ocean EcoVentures Whale Watching - Cowichan Bay, BC

March 6
Transient killer whales T020 and T021 along with the T086A's and the T137's were off of Victoria on March 6th. We left them south of Oak Bay headed for Discovery Island at 1520hrs.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

March 6

4:45 pm - 5-6 transient killer whales hanging out about 2 miles south of Victorian waterfront.
BC Whale Tours

March 6

Off Clover Point (Victoria) at 2:18 pm saw a pod of what I assume were transients traveling about 3 miles to the east off Clover Point. There was a group of 5 harbour seals taking shelter along the rocks keeping a wide eye.
Maria Chantelle Tucker

 

2012 Charter Cruises

Enjoy a personalized week long Charter Cruise in the pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. Information can be found on the 2012 Charter Cruises pages of Whales and Dolphins BC.

More Orca by Powell River

Surprise sighting of some Orca by Powell River and a very late report of a December sighting when we thought there were none. Reports follow. Also below are a couple of interesting links from Lisa Spaven of the Marine Mammal Response Network.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Unidentified Orca – Killer Whales

January 17:

9:42 am While talking on the phone, I was surprised to notice a blow a short distance off the Westview ferry teminal in Powell River. Quickly looking through binoculars, a few Orca appeared briefly. Doing long dives and surfacing very briefly, there were only a few chances to really look at them. There were approximately 7 Orca counted, but there may have been more. They including at least one large male and one, possibly two juveniles. After a couple of quick breaths they disappeared for quite a while and popped up again quite a distance off before the next breath. By 9:50 am they were Southbound well past the viewpoint and almost to Grief Point and out of sight.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

December 9, 2011:

Very late report, but interesting in that there were no other sightings of Orca at or around that time. There was a distant photo taken, so yes, it was Orca.

3 Orca surfaced quite close to the Texada Ferry just out from Blubber Bay and headed Northward towards Atrevida Reef and Lund.

Sean

Southern Resident Orca J27 off Willingdon Beach,

Powell River, BC January 11, 2012

photo taken off video clip by Susan MacKay, SG Images

Of Interest

Go where few have dared...inside a sperm whale! Think of this as an opportunity to experience the awe and gore of a large whale necropsy but without the mess and the everlasting smell (trust me, sperm whale stink is in a class of it's own!). It's just too bad that the necropsy wasn't filmed here.

Inside Nature's Giants - The Sperm Whale Necropsy

Wed, Jan 18, 10pm on KCTS-PBS

PREVIEW: http://video.pbs.org/video/2185065525/(amazing how a voice over and suspense-full music can make a necropsy seems action packed!)

Also, if you've ever wondered how BCMMRN fits into the national marine mammal response picture, here's the link to the national Marine Mammal Response Program website. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-mammiferes/index-eng.htm

Lisa Spaven, BCMMRN

Hummingbird Update:

Still have two male and two female hummingbirds battling over the feeder in the cold and snowy conditions. This afternoon, when the winds picked up and the feeder swung back and forth, one of the males was blown off his perch but made a safe landing onto an alternate perch. With the forecast snows, I hope to get a few photos of the birds in the snow.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

2012 Charter Cruises

Enjoy a personalized week long Charter Cruise in the pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. Information can be found on the 2012 Charter Cruises pages of Whales and Dolphins BC.