This is a catch up report including a
couple of missed entries from the July 29, 2013 posting. Hopefully
the feed blockage is finally fixed – again apologies to our email
subscribers.
There has been a lot of Cetacean life
out there so things have been busy. We have Humpback Whale reports
from the San Juans, Roberts Creek, Powell River, Campbell River and
where they were expected, the top of Johnstone Strait and Blackfish
Sound. Transient Bigg's Killer Whales have spread themselves out with
too many reports to summarize here, so read below. Northern Resident
Killer Whales pleased everyone by coming down as far as Nodales
Channel with the A36 brothers hanging about for a couple of days
foraging till the A8's arrived and departed. Pacific White Sided
Dolphins were becoming residents in and around Nodales Channel till
the Transient Bigg's Orca (meat eaters) chased them off. They
returned happily through a back channel. Few reports come in about
the little Harbour Porpoise or Dall's Porpoise, in particular when
there is so much other activity.
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!
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
NRKW's A66 and A42
August 5, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 6:
10:52 am 9 NRKWs right by Cracroft
Point Eastbound towards the Sophias, Blackfish Sound/Johnstone Strait
junction while the A30's are heading West up Blackfish Sound.
Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 6:
Throughout the day: The A25's and A23's
were just across Johnstone Strait from Robson Bight Ecological
Reserve while the A8's made it into the Reserve. The two A36 boys
were found in the fog close to the A30's in Blackfish Sound.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 5:
7 am 2 Orca spotted by fishermen
Westbound by Davis Point angling out of Nodales Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 5:
7:30 am At least 4 Orca Eastbound in
Johnstone Strait just above Ripple Point. From son-in-law on
commercial fishing vessel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 5:
9:07 am the A36 boys are in Nodales by
Thruston Bay Marine park. Other Orca are by Chatham Point.
9:24 am 6 Resident Orca by Chatham
Point across from the entrance to Nodales Channel; 1 Male and 1 calf
for sure.
9:53 am rest of Orca have entered
Nodales Channel.
August 5:
10:36 am Resident Orca Eastbound
passing Davis point heading up Nodales Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 5:
11:57 am A8's and A36's are heading
towards Frederick Arm, above Nodales Channel.
1:31 pm Resident Orca now heading out
of Frederick Arm into Nodales Channel. By Hall Point now and
Westbound.
August 5:
7:30-8 pm Watched the A36 brothers head
past Hardinge Island out of Nodales Channel towards Chatham Point.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 4:
8:22 am Couple Orca spotted in
Frederick Arm possibly A36's.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 4:
11:20 am The A36 boys are foraging
between Hall Point and Owen Point between Nodales Channel and
Fredericks Arm.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 4:
3:15 pm Left the A36's between Owen
Point and Hall Point between Nodales Channel and Fredericks Arm.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 4:
6 pm Left the A36 brothers at the
North-East end of Nodales Channel, by Sonora point heading West
slowly side by side.
Shaun & Mark, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 3:
12:19 pm Orca at Windy Point in
Johnstone Strait Eastbound. Might be the A36's (later confirmed)
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 3:
3:34 pm Humpback Whale Westbound in
Johnstone Strait while the A36's are Eastbound in the same area; 1
mile West of Camp Point.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 3:
3:12 pm A36's Eastbound at Camp Point
doing 9 knots.
4:20 pm Left the A36's one mile above
Bear Point mid channel Eastbound at 4 knots.
8:22 pm Left the A36's by Howe Island
at the entrance to Nodales Channel Eastbound.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 2:
1:09 pm A8's are Eastbound along Hanson
Island, and A36's are crossing Blackfish Eastbound also. Top of
Johnstone Strait.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 1:
9 am Orca Southbound by St Vincent's
Bight, Johnstone Strait. They're spread out about a mile.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 1:
10:47 am Orca Eastbound at York Island,
across from Kelsey Bay.
12:31 pm 20+ Resident Orca at Camp
Point Johnstone Strait Eastbound.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 1:
1:15 pm There's a split in the group of
Orca. Half continued East and the other half are resting at Camp
Point, Johnstone Strait.
3:28 pm Orca are entering Nodales
Channel at Howe Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 1:
3:05 pm Orca Eastbound by Rock Bay,
Chatham Point area.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 1:
5 pm 10 NRKW Easting to Sonora Point
Nodales Channel.
5:50 pm Fisherman report whales have
turned West and are heading towards Thurston Bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
NRKW from A8's
Rolling underwater by the boat
August 5, 2013
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Transient
Bigg's Killer Whales
August 6:
1:14 pm 2 Orca running tight to shore
by Albion (Black) Point below Myrtle Rocks Powell River. There's one
big male.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
August 6:
1:30 pm 3 Orca; 1 Male and two smaller
ones were Northbound past Armour Road, close to Myrtle Rocks.
Nina Falls, Powell River
August 6:
3:30 pm Transient Orca Northbound by
Rebecca Rocks, Powell River.
5:12 pm 3 Orca; T101, T101B and T102
angling towards Mystery Reef off Savary Island.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 6:
4:10 pm Transient Orca now at the top
North side of Harwood Island off Powell River.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 6:
4:28 pm 3 Bigg's one mile off the West
end of Harwood Island, Powell River area.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 6:
5:57 pm 3 Orca now at Grant's Reef, off
Savary island heading towards West tip of Savary Island.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 6:
6 pm I saw two orca going NW at a point
about 3km NW of Grant Reefs buoy at
6:00 PM today. They appeared to be a mature male and a smaller orca. Their pace was steady, slow to medium speed.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island
6:00 PM today. They appeared to be a mature male and a smaller orca. Their pace was steady, slow to medium speed.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island
August 5:
10:35 am At least 6 Orca heading
towards red can buoy off Cape Mudge from fishing guide.
1:31 pm The 6 Transient Bigg's Orca
turned by Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River and headed South.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 5:
10:36 am Orca blows moving quickly
Northbound from Mitlenatch.
10:46 am 9 Orca off the fishing Hump by
Cape Mudge Northbound.
Carl
August 5:
11:10 am Bigg's Orca midstrait between
Cape Mudge and Vancouver Island Northbound.
1 pm Leaving the Transients at the
mouth of Campbell River Northbound.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 5:
11:31 am Orca are Northbound between
Quathiaski Cove and Campbell River.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 5:
2:17 pm Transients now between Shelter
Point and Cape Mudge moving South fast. They were all over the place
back and forth. Possibly chasing something.
Pacific Yellowfin
August 5:
2:57 pm Orca headed towards light off
Texada, Blubber Bay.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 4:
While waiting for the Whaletown ferry
on Cortes Island this am around 8 am I saw a very large pod of
frolicking orcas swimming by the entrance to the cove. They were very
"loud" swimmers and even left a wake of sorts. Beautiful
sight and definitely a highlight of our trip!
Sandy
August 4:
9 am Pod of Orca are Eastbound by
Ripple Point in Johnstone Strait mid-channel.
Radio
August 4:
12:16 pm Left the T101's and T102
Southbound at 6.5 knots 2 miles west of Browns Bay within 100 meters
off Vancouver Island shoreline.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 4:
12:30 pm Bigg's Orca Southbound by
Browns Bay 100 meters from shore.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 4:
1:18 pm Killer Whales in Sutil Channel
angling towards Viner Point, Read Island.
1:50 pm 5 Transient Bigg's close to
Whaletown, Cortez Island. They're very active right on the ferry
route.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 4:
2:01 pm T101's are right by Campbell
River Fishing Pier Southbound at 8 knots!
3:40 pm Left the T101's between Sentry
Shoal and Vancouver Island.
5:26 pm On another trip out, left Orca
Southbound by the South end of Marina Island.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 4:
5:26 pm Leaving the T101's and T102.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 4:
5:34 pm Left Orca heading South at the
South end of Marina Island.
John, Discovery Marine
Safaris
August 3:
2:50 pm 3 Orca Westbound at Bjerre Rock
in Okisollo Channel.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 3:
3:47 pm Left Transients at Venture
Point just inside Okisollo Channel.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 3:
5:14 pm T's are in Okisollo Channel
coming to the mouth of Discovery Passage.
5:32 pm Transients heading South in
Discovery Passage towards the Dolphins.
6:18 pm 3 Transients heading North in
Discovery Passage just past the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 2:
7 pm 2 Transients Westbound by Hickey
Point, Johnston Strait.
Radio
July 31:
9:05 pm Left Orca Southbound by Race
Point Discovery Passage.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Unidentified
Orca
August 1:
3:05 pm 2 groups of Orca by Billy Goat
Bay, Helmken Island heading West.
Fabien, Way West Taxi
Humpback
Whales
August 6:
8:52 am 2 Humpbacks reported off
Mitlenatch Island – no direction.
5:12 pm Humpback between Sentry Shoal
and Savary Island foraging.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 6:
4:10 pm Humpback between Savary Island
and Harwood Island.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 6:
4:48 pm Humpback Whale is off Manson
Passage between Savary and Hernando Islands angling towards
Mitlenatch Island.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 5:
Hi Susan,having heard there were
humpbacks up near Powell River, I have been keeping a special eye out
for them down here on the southern coast.
Early this morning while paddle boarding with my wife we had the pleasure of a humpback cruise by us while we were out front near Flume Beach Park in Roberts Creek. I am a sailor,kayaker and a stand-up paddle boarder and have been on the water in the lower Strait for over 50 years and have never had the pleasure of seeing one of these guys down here!. It was awesome!
Early this morning while paddle boarding with my wife we had the pleasure of a humpback cruise by us while we were out front near Flume Beach Park in Roberts Creek. I am a sailor,kayaker and a stand-up paddle boarder and have been on the water in the lower Strait for over 50 years and have never had the pleasure of seeing one of these guys down here!. It was awesome!
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
August 4:
7:58 am report of a Humpback Whale by
Quathiaski Cove – no direction given. From Painters boat.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 4:
12:15 pm Left one Humpback Westbound by
Chatham Point.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 4:
1 pm Left Humpback Westing by Turn
Island in Johnstone Strait.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 3:
11:13 am Humpback off Kelsey Bay no
direction.
3:34 pm Humpback Whale Westbound in
Johnstone Strait while the A36's are Eastbound in the same area; 1
mile West of Camp Point.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 3:
2:25 pm Humpback Whale by Humpback Bay
above Ripple Point in Johnstone Strait.
Radio
August 2:
Humpback Westbound by Kelsey Bay.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 2:
1:44 pm Humpback just North of
Mitlenatch island. Breaching and tail slapping - awesome.
2:25 pm 2 Humpback Whales; one by Baker
Pass, Hernando Island and the other mid way between Baker Pass and
Mitlenatch Island.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 2:
4:20 pm Humpback off Hernando Island
and another out towards Mitlenatch.
Terry, Diamond Lady
August 2:
4:30 pm What a surprise as we looked
for the Humpbacks towards Mitlenatch. One came up right in front of
the boat. Stalled the boat to a quick stop.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 1:
8 am Humpback Whale right out in front
of Powell River.
8 pm A Humpback is breaching over and
over between Coho Point, Texada and Rebecca Rocks, Powell River.
(There's possibly two of them.)
Yesterday evening (July 31) off Coho
Point one was doing fin slaps etc. - 3rd hand report.
Steve Grover, Powell River
August 1:
7:10 pm Humpback off of Rebecca Rocks
again. Looks to be heading south.
Jessica Dohm, Powell River
August 1:
10:29 pm We have been watching a single
humpback whale (?) off Coho Point, from our house in Westview, since
about 2000. It is still out there but appears to be moving further
west a bit.
Kerry Jones, Powell River
July 31:
2:45 pm Humpback Whale just off Blubber
Bay, Texada.
Terry, Diamond Lady
July 30:
6-6:30 pm Watched a Humpback just off
Harwood Island, Powell River.
Jeff Lamarsh, Powell River
July 29:
around 6 pm 2 Humpback Whales feeding
around Grant's Reef doing circles around the fishermen for hours.
Second hand report.
Holly Dobler, Powell River
July 20: rec. Aug 2:
We had three humpback whales on Tuesday
July 20th in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
I was never able to get a full fluke ID
shot but here are the two that obliged with their prelude to a deep
dive. The other one , a much smaller humpy never did show any
tail.
Today , Friday August 2nd we had 3 more
Humpbacks, one we ID, as BCY0324.
Marie O'Shaugnessy, Orca Magic
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
August 6:
9 am PWS Dolphins at Hall Point.
11:29 am PWS Dolphins now foraging by
Davis Point.
August 6:
6:40 pm 50-60 PWS Dolphins foraging in
Hoskyns Channel, between Quadra and Read islands towards Beazely
Pass.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
August 5:
8:56 am At least a few of the PWS
Dolphins were spotted at the top of Lewis Channel. A few blows could
be seen from the chop.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 5:
11:57 am 100+ PWS Dolphins are
Northbound in the Yuculta Rapids – sort of stalled by Jimmy Judd
Island, Gillard Pass fighting current.
August 3:
8:43 am 100 PWS Dolphins Eastbound into
Okisollo Channel past Metcalf Islands, by first fishfarm.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 3:
10:30 am PWS Dolphins by Deepwater Bay
towards Brown's Bay.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 3:
11:38 am 75 PWS Dolphins Northbound at
Granite Point Discovery Pass.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 3:
4:22 pm 50-75 PWS Dolphins Northbound
surfing in a barge wake by Deepwater Bay.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 3:
5:20 pm The Dolphins are are heading
straight for the Transient Orca!
Radio
August 3:
6:04 pm I think the Dolphins got work
of the Transients. They were heading North then suddenly turned South
and bolted hell bent for leather! Left them mid channel approaching
Brown's Bay. John on Eagle 30 said the T's may have had a kill.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
August 3:
6:18 pm PWS Dolphins at Seymour Narrows
Southbound FAST.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
August 2:
11:02 am Large group of Dolphins at
Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel.
Oak Bay Titan
August 2:
11:02 am 50-100 PWS Dolphins by Denham
Bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 2:
11:55 am over 250 PWS Dolphins are
putting on an incredible performance. They have had new born calves
over the past couple of days. They're sooo tiny.
Nick
Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
August 2:
4 pm Left around 120 PWS Dolphins by
Denham Island spread to Denham Bay.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 1:
1:15 pm PWS Dolphins at Davis Point.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
August 1:
2:48 pm Approx. 100 PWS Dolphins
foraging about Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.
Lee, Adventure Quest
August 1:
3:28 pm 50 Dolphins back and forth at
Davis Point, Nodales Channel.
Garry
Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
August 1:
3:46 pm Dolphins are Westbound out of
Nodales Channel. They're passing Howe Island on the Thurlow Side.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale
Watching
July 30:
8:30 – 9 pm 4 PWS Dolphins heading
South-west by Grant's Reef off Savary Island.
Jeff Lamarsh, Powell River
Dall's and Harbour Porpoise
August 6:
1 pm I also saw two harbour porpoise
close to Grant Reefs buoy about 1PM today.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island
August 6:
4:48 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise a Mom and
calf heading West past Helmken Island, off Kelsey Bay.
5:20 pm Looks like same two foraging in
the tide rips of Current Passage.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 2:
1:28 pm 1 or 2 Dall's Porpoise foraging
between Copeland and Twin Islands.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
August 1:
11:30 am 3 Dall's Porpoise at Horn Bay,
above the Yuculta Rapids.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
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)