Killer Whales put on a Show by Campbell River and Savary, Pacific White Sided Dolphins but no Humpback Reports
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales put on quite a show right in front of Campbell River! Lots of photos below. At the time of working on this report there is another show of leaping Transient Bigg’s Orca going on just between Lund and Savary Island. Howe Sound was not to be outdone and also had an Orca show. It’s amazing when they have full bellies how they love to breach and play! Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been spotted in larger groups again and are moving around, presumably to avoid meeting up with the Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Orca who will attack them as food.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales – T087
April 14, 2015
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ORCA
April 17:
7:55 am There are about 6 Orca and a sea lion off Lund heading towards the Raggeds (local name for the Copeland Islands).
8:30 am The Orca were jumping out of the water and landing on the poor sea lion. I bet it hurts!! I think they’re teaching the young ones. There’s one big male for sure.
9:50 am They just off Mace Point, Savary Island looking like they’re about to head towards Powell River. Photos will follow. (we will have them in the next update – SM)
Gordie Coles, Lund / Savary Island
April 14:
1:27 pm: One lone Orca northbound by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island. Relayed through radio report.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
1:58 pm Lone Transient Bigg’s Orca at Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island side northbound. (from radio discussion and Fabien’s description this lone male was tentatively identified as T087 by Susan MacKay)
2:25 pm: More Orca, southbound, in Discovery Passage, meeting up with lone male. Getting a better count now and will get back.
2:34 pm: The lone male, (Transient Bigg’s Orca T87) has continued north, and the second group of 5 Orca are moving slowly south towards Campbell River, possibly on the hunt. There is one male and one calf in this group.
3:17 pm: Another pod of five Transient Bigg’s Orca, one male and four females, have joined the second group by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island. Some hunting. Total of ten Orca altogether. The lone male off somewhere and not seen. This third group of Orca came up from the south. They are very active, full breaching. Still by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse but look like they are starting to head south.
4:30 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca still by Cape Mudge Village, slowly southbound. Leaving the scene.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales – T063 plus
Campbell River, April 14, 2015 – 5 photos
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
April 14:
4:35 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T087 is by himself about 200 metres off shore in front of Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 14:
4:50 pm: With Transient Bigg’s Orca T063 (nicknamed "Chainsaw," because of the shape of his dorsal fin) and others. They ares leaping about, still off Cape Mudge.
5:15 pm The Orca have now turned and headed slowly Northbound angling towards the Campbell River side towards the Discovery Marina.
5:30 pm: Left the Orca northbound on the Quadra Island side of Discovery Passage.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
April 13:
7:00 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T011’s were in Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, today.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
April 12:
1:51 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca, T049’s are milling near Lopez Island, one of the San Juan Islands.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales – T063 plus
Campbell River, April 14, 2015 – 5 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES:
April 13: (rec’d 17th)
There were 2 groups of Orca a couple hundred meters apart and about 150 meters out from Sea Bay, off Comox. One group looked like maybe 8 to 10 animals and the other looked like 5 to 6 Orca.
Bradden Kiley
April 12:
Saw pod of Orcas heading north. Not sure just what the time was but would guess they were headed towards Halibut or McCall Bank. Was on 8:30 am ferry going to Departure Bay from Horseshoe Bay. They were quite far away but distinctly saw at least 4 or more dorsal fins.
Lyndell
April 12:
I saw at least 8-10 Orca through my binocs about 2-3 km off Roberts Creek pier this Sunday. There was a large Bull several other large Orca and smaller ones. It appeared they were hunting as they were first heading east then did a 180 and headed west for a few minutes. They stopped and there was Lots of, splashing and breaching for a bit. They were in two groups not far from each other. First real sighting this year from the Roberts Creek Pier.
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
April 10:
9:38 am: Orca southbound in Discovery Passage by the Walcan building in Campbell River. Just saw one big male. Reported by a friend.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 10:
11:50 am: Orca – three small ones and one large fin out by Painter’s Lodge and Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island, just milling.
(from radio)
April 10:
12:15 pm: Orca at Duncan Bay now, on the Vancouver Island side of Discovery Passage, still milling around.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 8:
These three photos were taken by my friends between Sunset Marina and Lion’s Bay in Howe Sound this Wednesday, April 8th. There were about 12 Orca including a baby, they enjoyed the show for half an hour. We were out with them on Monday and although a beautiful day, we did not get the show. I live in Lion’s Bay and have an amazing view, although we haven’t seen the Orca yet, lots of Dolphins, though.
Gord Broughton, Lion’s Bay, BC.
Orca in Howe Sound
April 8, 2015 – 3 photos
Photos courtesy of John and Brenda Gable
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
April 17:
7:35 am A dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Brew Bay (not clear if this is Brew Bay, south of Powell River or another one – SM)
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
1:26 pm: A dozen or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Duncan Bay, just north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 14:
4:30 pm: About 50 plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of Powell River, on the Sunshine Coast.
Steve Grover, Powell River.
April 14:
5:00 pm: There are closer to 80 – 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins, feeding back and forth in front of Powell River. Make that between 100 and 150!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April 12:
1:50 pm: A dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 12:
4:06 pm: Approximately 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins Chasing Feed
Powell River, April 14, 2015 – 2 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images
LINKS:
Underwater sounds captured near the South Shetlands belong to an unconfirmed type of whale, leading to speculation that this may be an entirely unknown species:
A gray whale has just been recorded as having completed the longest ever migration for the species, a stunning fourteen thousand miles return trip:
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