Sightings Jan 26 and Jan 27

Jan 27 – The morning started with 5 Killer Whales reported off the Iron Mines close to Lund at 10:30 am. They were southbound, so I headed out on the skiff to find them.

16 to 20 Transient Killer Whales appeared by Atrevida Reef, on the mainland side across from Hernando Island. They were moving very slowly spread out into smaller groups in typical Transient Orca fashion. There were two younger calves travelling with a large male, the only male spotted in the group. Another older calf was with a couple of females in a separate group.

The hydrophone was dropped into the water a number of times, but they were silent, even though they did not seem to be on the hunt. A couple of them came right up beside the skiff, and one stopped right underneath for a moment or two. Stopping, as if to rest, like that directly under a boat is something I had never seen or heard of before. They did frequently form resting lines on the surface, as Orca tend to do.

A few continued in the direction of the Powell River Mill, but they all turned and regrouped to head northwest between Harwood and Savary Islands. They continued with noses pointed towards Mittlenatch Island around 3:30 pm.

Only Steller Sea Lions were seen on Vivian Island, so don’t know where all those California Sea Lions got to. There were between 50 to 75 of them.

Jan 27 – On returning from the Orca, I had a message on the answering machine that around 1pm there was a large group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound between Grief Point and the Beach Gardens, Powell River close in to shore.

I spoke with the Vancouver Aquarium Cetacean Sightings Network, since I record and report all sightings. Apparently, there are a few large groups of Dolphins travelling in the Georgia Strait. Sightings have also been reported in Nanaimo and they have returned to Howe Sound again. I haven’t heard if there are any still in the Sechelt Inlet, so maybe someone could let me know.

Jan 26 – No sightings to report