Orca - Killer Whales by Powell River

Some Orca – Killer Whales sighted around Powell River. Winds and waves crashing on the rocks make it difficult to spot anything. While looking, some of the crashing waves can even look like blows. Watching for a few minutes will usually confirm if the 'blow' has a body and is moving. They are out there, it's just spotting them in this big ocean!

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Most Likely Transients

December 2:

12 pm 2 Big Fins and at least one smaller one between Lang Bay and Texada Island heading North up Malaspina Strait. Lots of bird activity in the area too.

Michael Stewart, Powell River

December 2:

1 pm With hopes of managing a photo or two for identification, drove down to Grief Point and friend, Judy Brant was the first to spot a confirmed blow just off VanAnda across the Strait from us. Once we located where the Orca were, I managed a count of 6 blows in two groups not too far apart from one another and finally saw a couple of dorsals between large waves. With the waves crashing against the jagged Texada shore, confirmation of more blows was impossible. The whales stayed closer to Texada so photos were not possible. Watching through binoculars, Judy managed to see 2 breaches off the light by Blubber Bay as they angled towards Rebecca Rocks; I was disappointed to miss them. At 2:47 pm they turned and angled towards the Powell River Mill when I finally could confirm 6 dorsals – then I lost them.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Regarding November 28 report:
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY POSTED SIGHTING REPORT: This California Transient sighting was NOT on November 28; however, the T18s WERE sighted on November 28.

"November 24: Transients CA172 with another female and juvenile were traveling quickly west bound in the middle of the Juan de Fuca Strait. I previously documented CA172 in the same region in December 2010 with 6 -8 other individuals. Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales"
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project

(Thanks again Alisa for the Correction – really appreciate it. SM)

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A note about the December 2^nd Orca reports above:

With a hydrophone, underwater listening device, established in a strategic location or two, we could have confirmed whether or not these Orca were Transients or Residents through their unique vocalizations. Every 'clan' has their own dialect. This is on the Whales and Dolphins BC wish list – see the Support – Enter Draw page.

Links in the News:

Received a CNN link to a very lucky dog with an Orca chasing him. Worth a look as this one looks legitimate:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/living/2012/11/22/orig-jtb-distraction-orca-dog.cnn

Japanese Whaling Survey Results from International Fund for Animal Welfare:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/more-back-whaling-than-not-japan-survey/story-e6freoo6-1226525219817

Whale Sightings and Hummingbirds

Today we did get some Orca – reports follow. Still not sure if these are Residents or Transients though. It's a bit too cold and choppy to get out on the water for ID's. Their behaviour makes me lean towards Transients rather than Resident Orca. Wonderful to have everyone letting me know so I can post the information – Thank you for networking and good eyes !

As for the Anna's Hummingbirds, thank you for all your emails. With many comments of surprise to have Winter Hummingbirds, I also heard of many other Winter Hummers in Gibsons, Sechelt, Lang Bay, all along the Sunshine Coast and up to Lund. Sounds like lots more people will be putting feeders out too.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Killer Whales

January 19:

10:30 am Call came in that there was a large group of Orca headed Northward from Lang Bay. They were spread out across the channel.

Heather Dixon

11 am Call came in that there were whales coming towards Grief Point.

Gail Alsgard

12:30 pm Over 300 Seagulls were feeding on what looked like possibly a very large herring ball. Although something must be chasing the food up and there were a few splashes that looked to be too large for birds to make, there was no clear view of any dorsals from Orca or Dolphins.

Michael Stewart

Orca off Westview, Powell River

January 19, 2012

photo by: Steven Grover (from his deck)

Hello Susan,

Did you happen to see the 2 pods of Orcas going North Jan. 19, today around 1 pm. I haven’t seen them this week but I wondered why cars were stopping along Marine Avenue. I live at Beacon B&B Spa so looked out on the water and there they were. I read your notes from January 17th and I think these appear to be the same whales you indicated on that date. There appeared to be a large one and in another location was a baby. They were fairly close by but still hard to detect how many of them there were. Happy whale watching,

Shirley Randall

1:30 pm After the “Orca out in front” sighting call from neighbour Steve Grover, I got binoculars on at least 4 Orca out in front of Westview Powell River. One male breached just off the Viewpoint as it headed in towards shore. About 2 pm An additional 3 Orca (1 Male, 1 Female & 1 Juvenile) passed by making my total count 7 Orca. They were not wasting time in heading Northward towards Atrevida Reef.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Later email report back from Steve: I never got a great look at the entire pod but I think 5 were there. I did get some shots of the bull off the deck. You can actually see the dorsal quite clearly in these shots. (see photo)

Steve Grover

January 9:

Just a hint of how far reaching the internet is: I received a late third hand report of some Orca by Cape Mudge lightstation on the afternoon of January 9^th. The report came from Jodie in the UK

 

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