Humpback Whales Rule the Upper Georgia Strait

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Humpback Whales Rule the Upper Georgia Strait

August 24, 2017   —   issue No. 2017-028

Although some Orca reports have been coming in from the upper Johnstone Strait for Northern Resident Orca and a few Transient Biggs passing through and around the upper Georgia Strait, Humpback Whales seem to be the primary sightings reports. As of writing this, today’s count is up to 20 Humpbacks spread out in numbers ranging from lone whales up to six in one area. The areas range from close to Hornby Island, across the strait to Texada Island and Powell River, and up through some of the rapids in the various channels just below Chatham point. At one point the transient Biggs Orca, the T002C Family, and a couple of Humpback Whales were within extremely close proximity along the Quadra Island shoreline. These whales usually stay well away from one another.

A few of the around 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins also got into the act by harassing a couple of Humpback Whales in Nodales Channel. Not quite sure if the third Humpback just left the area or if the Dolphins continued harassment by chasing the one on it’s own. The majority of the Dolphins were spread out from Brown’s Bay in Discovery Passage up to Kelsey Bay.

Most boaters have become a bit more aware and it’s great to see people slowing and stopping for these wonderful mammals. There’s a lot of activity out there and we are grateful to receive all your sightings reports, especially happy to hear more from some of our shore-based spotters. Keep your eyes open, and don’t forget to report.

Note – due to the high number of reports we have received in the past 6 days, we will be releasing another report shortly.

Susan Mackay, Wild Ocean Whale Society

Pacific White Sided Dolpins jumping like popcorn and putting on a show at Denham Rock

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

Society News & Events
Real Time Monitoring Station Update: We’re LIVE!
Connect to our first installation mounted at Beach Gardens Marina click on our YouTube Channel Live Link. Please bear with us as we work on the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images. Even with the bouncy images, we still managed to have a couple of whale sightings. The hydrophone (underwater listening) installation will follow.

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Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-028

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP

TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES


Fri Aug 18 2017

15:15 • est. 2 Biggs Orca heading north just passed Nootka St. about 500 metres off shore Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC

13:00 • 5 Biggs Orca around Snake Island, Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. Checking out snorkellers in very shallow water.

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive


Thu Aug 17 2017

18:00 • 4-5 Biggs Orca heading south off Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel. ▫ Second Hand


SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Transient Biggs Killer Whales

Three Transient Bigg’s Killer Whalesheading north off of Cape Lazo

Tue, 8 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Transient Biggs Killer Whales

Three Transient Bigg’s Killer Whalesheading north off of Cape Lazo

Tue, 8 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES


Sat Aug 19 2017

15:03 • est. 65 NRKW Orca ◦A23s; Gs◦ heading west at Sophia Islands, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene

14:08 • NRKW Orca spread out, heading west across the Strait from Boat Bay, Johnstone Strait.

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

13:36 • NRKW Orca heading west at Naka Creek, Johnstone Strait. G and A pods.


Fri Aug 18 2017

13:00 • 40-60 NRKW Orca ◦A30s◦ between Kaikash Creek and Cracroft Point, Johnstone Strait.


Thu Aug 17 2017

12:32 • NRKW Orca ◦I15s◦ abeam Baron Reef, Johnstone Strait.

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES


Tue Aug 15 2017

14:00 • est. 5-7 Orca moving slowly, heading west opposite Port Mellon, Thornbrough Channel, Howe Sound. Initially they were taking long dives and then came close to a log boom. At the log boom, they were close to the surface and circled around as if hunting. ▫ On Scene

Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Unidentified Killer Whales

Five to seven Killer Whales heading west opposite to Port Mellon in Thornbrough Channel

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Unidentified Killer Whales

Five to seven Killer Whales heading west opposite to Port Mellon in Thornbrough Channel

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC

HUMPBACK WHALES


Sat Aug 19 2017

17:32 • 2 Humpback Whales heading toward Plunger Passage, between Hill Island and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.

Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

16:25 • 2 Humpback Whales at Arran Rapids going into Bute Inlet.

16:20 • 1 Humpback Whales at south end of Yuculta Rapids.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

16:08 • 2 Humpback Whales pectoral slapping, west side of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Multiple pectoral slaps. ▫ Leaving the Scene

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales at Arran Rapids headed into Bute Inlet.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

15:31 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading west off entrance of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.

15:13 • 2 Humpback Whales bucking tide, between Big Bay and Sea Lion Rock, Yuculta Rapids. Very active.

15:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.

Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC

14:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading toward Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.

14:53 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.

14:14 • Humpback Whales breaching, Connis Point, Pryce Channel. Breaching multiple times.

12:28 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, north end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.

11:44 • 4 Humpback Whales between north end of east Penn Islands and Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.

10:17 • 6 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Penn Islands and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel. Three sets of two.

09:43 • 2 Humpback Whales between mid Marina Reef and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

07:47 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north travelling about 5 knots off the fishing area in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.


Fri Aug 18 2017

16:57 • 3 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet.

15:53 • 4-5 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Four to five Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 – 6 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Four to five Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet

Fri, 18 Aug 2017 – 6 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:07 • 2 Humpback Whales off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.

12:33 • 1 Humpback Whales north side of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Caught in prawn trap. DFO and Coast Guard know about this but whale has not since been located. They are actively looking.

BMS, Vancouver, BC

11:30 • Humpback Whales heading south near Little Bear Bay down Discovery Passage, Discovery Passage.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:24 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, west of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.

10:57 • Humpback Whales heading east by Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.


Thu Aug 17 2017

16:36 • 2-3 Humpback Whales off of Whaletown, Sutil Channel.

16:33 • 2 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage aimed for Sutil Channel.

12:41 • 4 Humpback Whales south of Drew Passage, Sutil Channel. Very active.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales very active in Drew Passage

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 3 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales very active in Drew Passage

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 3 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:53 • 3 Humpback Whales south of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. Very curious.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:18 • 3 Humpback Whales between Raza Island and South Rendezvous Island, Raza Passage.

11:07 • 3 Humpback Whales off of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:03 • 3 Humpback Whales moving towards Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.

10:26 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Bullock Bluff heading towards the Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.

09:50 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Bartlett Island, Pacific Ocean.

09:18 • 4 Humpback Whales between Marina Island and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.

08:17 • 4 Humpback Whales between the green can at Wilby Shoals and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.


Wed Aug 16 2017

18:17 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.

18:15 • Humpback Whales between Subtle Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel. A bunch of whales.

Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

18:14 • 2 Humpback Whales off the Comox ferry route to Little River in the middle of Georgia Strait. Very active whales.

Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, north-east of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. They were fairly stationary doing continuous slapping, alternating with each other. ▫ From Ferry

Geneva Janzen, Campbell River, BC

15:51 • 2 Humpback Whales east of marker at Grant Reefs, Malaspina Strait. Reported by boater. ▫ Second Hand

Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

15:49 • 4 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown, Sutil Channel. Very active. ▫ Leaving the Scene

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Three Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 6 items

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Three Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 6 items

15:35 • 1 Humpback Whales off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.

Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

15:25 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, along the east side of Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:21 • Humpback Whales heading north off Mace Point, Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Report from BCCSN that whale is entangled with crab trap with buoy attached. It was heading towards Hernando Island. ▫ Second Hand

11:37 • Humpback Whales foraging, between the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.

10:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

10:37 • 2 Humpback Whales taking short dives, off the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Tight to shore and lots of big flukes.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

10:35 • 2 Humpback Whales approaching Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.

Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

10:21 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene

09:56 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south from Wilby Shoals towards Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

09:52 • 2 Humpback Whales 150-m off the shore of Raza Island heading into Deer Passage. Possibly mother and calf.

09:46 • 2 Humpback Whales along the east side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.

08:51 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.

08:25 • 3 Humpback Whales near the light at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.

07:40 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north across from Campbell River close to Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore

Jeanne Ralston, Campbell River, BC

06:48 • 3 Humpback Whales just north of Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.


SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Humpback Whales

Fluke of a Humpback Whale passing by Campbell River

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safari Naturalist

SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Humpback Whales

Fluke of a Humpback Whale passing by Campbell River

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 1 items

Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safari Naturalist


SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whale off of Powell River

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 – 4 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SPECIES SUPPLEMENT

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whale off of Powell River

Sat, 19 Aug 2017 – 4 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS


Sat Aug 19 2017

16:29 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins resting, at Bear Point, Johnstone Strait.

15:40 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading north mid channel off 45 Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

15:19 • PWS Dolphins milling, mid channel out from Palmer Bay, Johnstone Strait. Appeared to be headed south initially but turned around.

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:59 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins off North Bluff angling toward Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.

14:07 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins playing, north of Separation Head on shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.

12:48 • PWS Dolphins heading south 2 miles south of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage. South of the big group.

12:45 • PWS Dolphins heading north mid-channel at the south end of Kanish Bay. ▫ Leaving the Scene

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

12:27 • PWS Dolphins heading north on Vancouver Island side by Kanish Bay.

Tenacious3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris

10:36 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins heading south past Kanish Bay. Info from Ladyhawk. ▫ Second Hand

09:53 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins heading south off Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.


Fri Aug 18 2017

13:49 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, south of Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.

12:31 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading south mid channel in front of Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.

Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

11:00 • PWS Dolphins headed from Discovery Passage into Nodales Channel.

10:00 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading south from Ripple Point to Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.

09:30 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins just past Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. Reported by a fisherman. ▫ Second Hand


Thu Aug 17 2017

14:55 • PWS Dolphins at Denham Rock, Dent Rapids.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific white Sided Dolphins jumping like popcorn at Denham Rock

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 7 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific white Sided Dolphins jumping like popcorn at Denham Rock

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 7 items

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:32 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading west in front of Port Neville, Johnstone Strait.

10:30 • PWS Dolphins heading towards Davis Point to Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.

Radio, overheard or call out


Wed Aug 16 2017

16:27 • PWS Dolphins milling, west of Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.

12:15 • PWS Dolphins milling, half-mile west of Cinque Islands in the middle of Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:51 • 15 PWS Dolphins off Windy Point, Johnstone Strait.

10:26 • PWS Dolphins heading south in Kanish Bay. Drafting tug with double red barge.

DALLS PORPOISE


Sat Aug 19 2017

16:00 • 8 Dalls Porpoise playing, Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.

Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

OF SPECIAL NOTE


Wed Aug 16 2017

16:06 • 1 Other Species at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.


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Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
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The Magazine

Due to the large number of sightings, the Magazine is taking a short break and will return this coming Monday in Issue 2017-030


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