Excitement
over the Northern Resident Killer Whales finally coming back into our
inside waters in numbers. The Transient Bigg's Orca have all but
disappeared somewhere. In this report, as promised there is some
other information on the Orca with the damaged dorsal the Dept. of
Fisheries had numbered U135. He is actually known as CA217...see
below. We also have some great photos, and report, of a Minke Whale
breaching. The Humpback Whale known as 'KC' has been putting on the
miles back and forth between Campbell River and the top of Johnstone
Strait. Sometimes 'KC' is spotted with other Humpback Whales during
these travels, sometimes alone. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are
happily spending time harassing the NRKW's and a few Dall's and
Harbour Porpoise sightings bring up the rear of the report.
We
are putting in long hours in preparation for Sea
Fair 2014, Powell River
and our Huge
Fundraising Raffle.
Sea Fair runs July 25, 26 and 27th.
Winners of the 6 tours will be drawn on July 27th
at Sea Fair and announced as soon as possible on line after sending
emails and/or phoning any local winners to advise the lucky ones.
Tickets are still available on line till noon, local time (PDT), and
at our Willingdon Beach, Sea Fair booth till 5 pm draw date. See
below the report for further information. Have
you bought your tickets yet?
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call
1-877-323-9776
or Emailyour
report.
Every
sighting report is valuable!
NORTHERN
RESIDENT (fish eating) KILLER WHALES
NRKW
A37 'Plumper'
July
22, 2014
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
22:
11:05
am: Two NRKW brothers at Ripple Point westing and foraging.
1:11
pm: Two Orca easting at St. Vincent's Bight.
1:15
pm: 3 more Orca approaching St. Vincent's Bight, 4 females, 1 calf.
1:40
pm: All the whales at St. Vincent's Bight have turned and are now
westing.
4:16
pm: A36's at Rock Point, mid strait, easting.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
22:
11:50
am: NRKW Orca foraging just above Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
3:11
pm: The A36's have turned and are eastbound past Ripple Point.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
22:
1:30
pm: 4 Orca foraging between St. Vincent's Bight and Windy Point,
Johnstone Strait.
Peter
Cracknell, Sayward.
NRKW
July 22, 2014
Peter
Cracknell, Sayward.
July
22:
1:35
pm: Leaving the NRKW boys foraging at Palmer Bay (below Humpback Bay,
Johnstone Strait.) Lots of foraging behaviour. Plumper still less
active than Kaikash but looking okay.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
22:
2:24
pm: We have about 30 NRKW Orca right now between the Adam River and
Stimpson Light, Johnstone Strait.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
22:
3:30
pm: A36's still easting past Ripple Point.
Aaron
Webber,Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
22:
4:20
pm: We have a large group of Orca ( estimating 25 +) westing mid
Johnstone Strait off Forward Bay, Johnstone Strait. They seem to be
slowly moving towards Vancouver Island.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
22:
5:30
pm: Left A36's brothers rounding Chatham Point, heading into Nodales
Channel.
Mark
Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
21:
9:00
am: A Fishing guide has reported that there is an Orca at Hall Point.
Reportedly there is just the one male there. Some others have been
reported at Chatham Point.
Update:
12 Orca reported “northbound” at Chatham; presumably they are
westing.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July
21:
10:34
am: Reports of 20 or so Orca at Rock Point, and a lone Orca at Hall
Point. They have Pacific White Sided Dolphins harassing them. (A
definite give away for them being Resident (fish eating) Orca rather
than Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Orca. - SM)
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
11:35
am: Two groups of Orca – the leading group is at Humpback Bay, the
second group is rounding Bear Point, all heading west in Johnstone
Strait.
Mark
Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
A103
'Albion', born Dec. 2012
July
21, 2014
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
12:02
pm: The NRKW's A34's are foraging and resting mid channel off
Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait. Youngsters chasing Pink Salmon on the
surface. Garry is with the A8's west of us by 2 miles, about 3 miles
back from Camp Point.
12:58
pm: The A8's are at Camp Point having a tickle right now.
1:18
pm: Left the A8's heading west at 7 knots from Camp Point along the
Vancouver Island shore.
2:40
pm: Leaving the A34's now, westing at west end of Helmken island.
Awesome about Plumper!
7:56
pm: A36 boys are between Sonora Island and Hall Point, easting and
foraging.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Note:
Plumper (A37) has been missing for a while and was presumed to have
died, but happily he is alive and well and reunited with his brother
Kaikash (A46)
July
21:
1:25
pm: NRKW's A34's at Camp Point westing at 5 knots. Leaving the scene.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
21:
1:43
pm: Leaving the A34's at Camp Point heading west along the Vancouver
Island shoreline.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Above two photos
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
2:01
pm: NRKW A46 in Frederick's Arm, feeding.
Mark
Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
21:
2:38
pm: Both brothers, A36's, in Frederick's Arm.
3:15
pm 40 NRKW Orca reported at Lizard Point, Malcolm Island at the top
of Blackfish Sound.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
21:
4:08
pm: NRKW's A8's westing off Windy Point, half a mile offshore.
Tenacious 3 is leaving the scene.
John,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
21:
6:30
pm: A37 and A46 westing out of Frederick's Arm.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
20:
9:35
am (Northern
Resident – determined later)
Orca at Rock Point Eastbound.
Radio
July
20:
9:55
am At least 9 NRKW Orca are Eastbound at Turn Island off Chatham
Point....Brad is the man, he found them!
Fabien
Minifray, Eagle Eye Adventures
July
20:
12:15
pm 6 Orca – two pairs of small dorsals and two males at Sonora
Point Eastbound. A8's + A46 = 6 Orca.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Resort
July
20:
12:57
pm The Orca are now Westbound pretty fast past Davis Point, Nodales
Channel, now.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July
20:
4:42
pm 11 Northern Resident Orca resting West end of Michael Bigg
Ecological Reserve boundary.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July
20:
5:37
pm NRKW's A8's and A46 are at Bear Bight, Johnstone Strait. They're
resting and pointing East.
5:53
pm They just woke up and turned to head to the West quickly.
6:19
pm And now they're Eastbound again. We're back to Bear Bight!
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
July
19:
11:30
am: Northern Resident Orca, the A8's at Naka Creek, eastbound
Johnstone Strait.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
19:
2:30
pm: Leaving the NRKW Orca at St. Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait,
easting.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
19:
5:47
pm: 6 NRKW Orca (A8's) easting 1.75 nautical miles west of Kelsey
Bay. Tenacious 3 is leaving now, Nick is
on
scene. No vocals today, though lots of tail and pectoral slapping.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
19:
5:47
pm On scene with residents, finally, lol, One mile west of Brasseau
Point, Kelsey Bay area.
6:37
pm: We have Kaikash here with A42 and her family. We just watched
them surfing through 4-5 foot waves past Kelsey Bay with Kaikash in
the lead. They all moved over to the Hardwicke Island side, and just
stopped in for a quick rub on the beach inside the reef. We are
continuing east now, on the west side of Helmcken Island.
7:18
pm: We are leaving them now. The A8's stopped at Camp Point for one
tickle and then continued east.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Above two photos: NRKW A8's and A34's
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
18:
12:00
pm: Left Resident Orca at Petersen Island near Kelsey Bay at noon,
westbound at 6 knots.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
18:
5:47
pm: 6 Orca easting 3 cables abeam of Hickey Point. Tenacious 3 is now
leaving the area.
John,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
17:
6:30
am: The A8's were spotted breaching off Whilby Shoals. (We
do not know who identified the whales, but have entered these two
reports under the NRKW's - SM)
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
17:
8:00
am: Elvis had a report of Orca at Eagle's Cove. (based
on the later reports, it's assumed these were Northern Resident Orca
- SM)
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching. Over radio.
July
17:
11:00
am: One Orca dorsal fin at Bear Point, westing. (based
on the later reports, it's assumed this was a Northern Resident Orca
- SM)
11:25
am: There are Pacific White Sided Dolphins with the Orca.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
17:
11:
45 am: Sounds like these Orca may be the A8's. 5-6 Orca reported. Am
on my way.
12:22
pm:
Yes,
these are
the
A8's. They are at Tyee Point now, westbound at 6 knots.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
17:
1:37
pm: Leaving the A8's at Kelsey Bay, westing into 12 foot waves!
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July, 2014
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S (meat eating) KILLER WHALES
July
19:
1:00
pm: Sketchy report of 3 Unidentified Orca (assumed Transient Bigg's)
southbound at Shelter Point, below Campbell River.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
18:
10:13
am: At Bear Point with T77A, Elvis is still on the scene waiting for
Garry.
(Note: Orca was identified as T170 by Whales and Dolphins BC - SM)
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
18:
7:47
am: Lone male Orca near Elk Bay, northbound at 6 knots.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
July
18:
12:05
pm Left Orca by Petersen Island, Kelsey Bay. He was westbound at 6
knots.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours, via Nick
and Janeen.
July
17:
7:45
pm: Lone Orca, possibly T77A. He was just seen 15 minutes ago by a
friend of mine who is a log salvager. He said he saw a huge dorsal by
Hidden Harbour, in Campbell River, basically right across from the
Cape Mudge Village. (From
the photo Garry sent us, the lone Orca was not T77A but actually
T170. Not one of the usual suspects. SM)
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours, via Nick
and Janeen.
July
17:
7:30
pm: Just got a report of one lone male Orca playing in the kelp beds
off Rotary Beach at Campbell River all day, in the Whilby Shoals
area. These are reports I got just now from a fisherman.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
HUMPBACK
WHALES
July
22:
9:00
am: A boater has reported a Humpback Whale in Cordero Channel.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
22:
3:00
pm: With Humpback Whale north of Marina island, heading for Subtle
Island.
4:05
pm Humpback at Viner Point, Read Island feeding.
Colin
Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin.
July
21:
7
am: Humpback Whale seen from the ferry line near the Campbell River
side Northbound.
There
was a Humpback in front of the river mouth 10 minutes ago.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
21:
8:20
am: Update on Garry's Humpback; there are two of them now, in front
of Copper Cliff, Campbell River, mid strait. They are moving north at
4 knots.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
21:
9:50
am Humpback Whale is still hanging around Race Point, Seymour Narrows
bucking the tide.
9:59
am Humpback moved to the Quadra Island shore line.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
July
21:
3:28
pm Humpback Whale 'KC' is still hanging out between Race Point and
Walcan, Seymour Narrows.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
10:14
am: The Humpback is 'Kelp Creature' – did a few nice tail lobs for
us so got good ID. Bucking the flood current at Race Point.
10:34
am: 'KC' is doing donuts in front of the Walcan building. Haven't
seen the second Humpback.
4:30
pm: May be a second Humpback at Brown's Bay possibly 'KC', because no
one saw him at Walcan. He gave me the slip so I left. We want time to
go back up to Nodales to see the NRKW brothers and to see how Plumper
is doing.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
4:51
pm: The Humpback in Brown's Bay is 'KC', going with the tide.
Jack
Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
20:
10:14
am The Humpback is 'KC'. Did a few nice tail lobs for us so got a
good ID photo. He's bucking the flood current at Race Point, Seymour
Narrows.
10:34
am 'KC' is doing donuts infront of Walcan, Campbell River. We haven't
seen a second Humpback Whale.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July
20:
2:58
pm Humpback Whale at Ripple Point, close to the Northern Resident
Killer Whales, Eastbound.
3:30
pm There are actually 2 Humpback Whales!
Fabien
Minifray, Eagle Eye Adventures
July
20:
3:57
pm Humpback 'KC' with ?? are Eastbound between Ripple Point and Rock
Bay, Chatham Point area.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July
20:
4:42
pm 2 Humpback Whales at the entry to Parson's Bay, Blackfish Sound.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July
19:
11:35
am: Humpback Whale westing in Race Passage, Johnstone Strait.
Jen
Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
19:
3:29
pm: One Humpback at Elk Bay, southbound on the Vancouver Island side.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
19:
4:42
pm: Humpback Whale known as 'KC' is northbound at Elk Bay.
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
19:
5:49
pm: Humpback at Chatham Point, heading into Johnstone Strait.
Fabien
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
19:
7:55
pm: Humpback Whale 'KC' is at Ripple Point now, still westbound in
Johnstone Strait.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
18:
7:24
pm: One, possibly two Humpback whales off the dock in Kelsey Bay,
back and forth.
John,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
MINKE
WHALES
July
17:
9:25
am: Yesterday at 9:00 p.m while riding the Quadra Queen 11 ferry from
Alert Bay to Sointula, I watched a Minke whale breaching just of the
entrance to the Nimpkish estuary – approximate location 50 degrees
34' 46.21N, 126 degrees 57' 57.41 W. The Minke breached a couple of
times, then disappeared from view. I didn't get any good ID photos
that clearly show the dorsal, so not sure which Minke this may be. I suspect it may be Eclipse (#6) as s/he has been in the area over the last few weeks, but noticeably absent for most of the last week when I have been down in that area during the morning and afternoon.
Darryl
Luscombe, Sointula.
Above three photos
Darryl
Luscombe, Sointula.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
July
22:
10:04
am: 50 – 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Chancellor Channel at
Eden Point.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
22:
6:30
pm 35 Pacific White Sided Dolphins mid channel, Westbound off Kelsey
Bay.
John
Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July
21:
10:34
am: Report of Pacific White Sided Dolphins harassing a group of 20 or
so Orca at Rock Point.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
21:
10:50
am 50 PWS Dolphins at Chatham Point angling South.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
July
21:
12:56
pm: About 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins just south of Chatham
Point.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
July
21:
4:52
pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point, feeding.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
20:
9:03
am: 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
20:
3:17
pm 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point Westbound into
Johnstone Strait.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
19:
9:52
am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Denham Bay area, Dent Rapids.
(from
radio)
July
19:
10:15
am: Just one Pacific White Sided Dolphin spotted close to Denham Bay.
Very foggy.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July
19:
11:56
am: 30-ish Pacific White Sided Dolphins inbound towards the Yuculta
Rapids, at Denham Bay.
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July
19:
12:20
pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Horn Point, eastbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
18:
8:22
am: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Howe Island, heading into
Nodales Channel.
10:06
am: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the Denham Bay area by Sonora
Island.
Leigh
Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
July
18:
1:30
pm: 50-60 Pacific White sided Dolphins going into Frederick's Arm.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July
18:
2:33
pm: 4 Pacific White Sided Dolphins westing mid channel off Kelsey
Bay.
John,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
July
18:
3:20
pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Denham Bay, Dent Rapids,
feasting on young salmon.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
18:
3:50
pm: Leaving the Pacific White Sided Dolphins still in the Denham Bay
area.
Fabian
Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July
18:
5:52
pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Separation Head, Discovery
Passage.
Leif
Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July
17:
11:25
am: Pacific
White Sided Dolphins and Orca at Bear Bight, westing.
Bradden
Kiley, Painters Lodge.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
July
22:
2:30
pm: 4 Dall's at Brasseau Bay, milling.
Peter
Cracknell, Sayward.
July
18:
11:05
am: 4 Dall's Porpoise eastbound at Bear Point, Johnstone Strait.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
July
22:
10:20
am: Two Harbour Porpoise milling at April Point.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July
19:
11:55
am: About 10 Harbour Porpoise impersonating Dall's Porpoise at the
Gillard Isle light, Yuculta Rapids. They're surfing and grouped up!
Aaron
Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
California
Transient Bigg's Orca Information Update
Transient
Bigg's Orca U135 is California Bigg's CA217
He
still has lice-infested unhealed wounds to his dorsal fin
July
7, 2014
by Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait
Jos
Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Information
provided by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project
in Monterey, California. Thank you Alisa!
U135:
California Bigg's (transient) killer whale CA217 ("Chopfin",
AKA "Stubby" or "Stumpy"), showed up
off of Vancouver Island on July 7, 2014 with the CA216s! they have
only been documented in BC once before (2011), recognized by Jared
Towers, Dept. Fisheries as U135. I have seen him many times in
Monterey Bay and southern California. He usually travels by himself
or with another male. His preferred matriline companion is CA216 and
her four offspring (his associates in this encounter). We first saw
him in December 1998 off of Santa Catalina Island in southern CA (~25
miles from my home near Los Angeles Harbor). At that time, his dorsal
fin was completely collapsed, with entanglement injuries at the base
of his dorsal fin. Over the next year, necrotic tissue slowly ate
away at the healthy tissue in his fin, leaving a stump that slowly
righted itself as half of a dorsal fin. I named him Chopfin. In 2007,
Cascadia Research Collective sighted him off of Westport, Washington
with a relatively fresh injury to his dorsal fin; apparently a
propeller had shredded it. His dorsal fin never properly healed. He
is most often sighted in Monterey Bay, but has ranged south into
Orange County in southern CA.
There
are likely 160-180 CA Ts; some are seen so seldom, I'm not sure
whether to officially count them. It is very exciting! Most seem to
disperse from their usual haunts after the gray whale moms and calves
pass through here, by late May. The sightings start to pick up again
in late August and Sept, with many returning by October. CA217 was in
Monterey Bay November 10, 2013.
Outside
of the 2011 sighting, CA217 has only been documented outside of CA on
two occasions (to my knowledge): both were off of Westport,
Washington. The CA216s were not identified with him then. The CA216's
should include a mom and her four offspring, including a small calf.
The one with the zig-zag injury is CA216B. Not sure of the sex yet:
may be a sprouting male
One
of the females in this sighting we call Big Eye (not an official name
yet (: she has the largest eyepatches of all of our CA Ts! CA216A.
I'd
like to link the U (which stands for Unidentified) numbers with the
CA IDs. Should be: CA217 (Chopfin AKA Stubby, male); CA216, CA216A
(Big Eye), CA216B (Jagged), CA216C, CA216D (calf).
I
took this photo in Aug 2012, Monterey Bay, CA: you can see that he
had unhealed wounds to his dorsal fin that still persist today (see above photo from July 7, 2014 - SM).
Alisa
Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project.
FUNDRAISING
2014
Fundraising
2014:
Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell
River
Town Centre Mall on Sat., July 12 & Sea Fair July 25, 26 &
27th
Campbell
River
Discovery Marine Safaris office & at the Discovery Marina dock
offices of: Eagle Eye Adventures & Aboriginal Journeys Whale &
Grizzly Tours
2
GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE
#1:
-
-
-
RAFFLE
#2:
-
-
-
Tickets
are 5 for $10 – Please make sure you specify what Raffle you'd like
in the notes.
Both
raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea
Fair
Thank
you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
From
all of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
LINKS
Thanks
very much to Grant Rainsley for sending us the following link;
fascinating! Orca videography from a drone:
Here
is a link to a video of some Orca following and catching a seal by
Pender Island:
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
Gaming
Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your
limit, play within it.
