Orca have appeared in many waterways such as Nodales Channel, Discovery Passage, Malaspina Strait, Howe Sound, and surprisingly in Sechelt Inlet. Many of these Orca are the Transient Orca (mammal-eating Orca) and some observers were able to see them hunting sea lions. A group of Southern Resident Orca (fish-eating Orca) were seen off Gibsons. No other reports of the Southern Resident Orca were received but many of the Orca sightings classified as unidentified could be Resident Orca. There are small and subtle visual differences between Transient Orca and Resident Orca, and with the use of a camera as well as some experience, one may be able to identify them by looking at a picture and comparing it to an Orca catalog.
Transient Orca travel around more than Resident Orca. For example on April 2nd, a couple of Transients were observed in the morning in Seymour Narrows (north of Campbell River) and by mid-afternoon, they were in Georgia Strait approaching Comox. These Orca travelled approximately 40-km in about 5 hours and that’s far for them in a short time!
There have been sightings of Pacific White-Sided dolphins but none of them are large groups numbering in the hundreds. Rounding our report are sightings of a few Humpback whales, Dall’s porpoise, and Harbour porpoise. It appears that a large group of Harbour porpoise was also in Sechelt Inlet and they may have been trying to get away from Orca.
WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2019-008
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue Mar 26 2019
15:44 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T087,T124A2,T124A2A,T124A2B◦
foraging, heading south abeam North Bluff, Discovery Passage.
Foraging for common mures in the Ebb tide nose into the current making slow headway.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
15:52 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T087,T124A2,T124A2A,T124A2B◦ off Separation Head, Discovery Passage.
16:08 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T087,T124A2,T124A2A,T124A2B◦ heading south passing Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
17:57 • Biggs Orca heading south towards Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
Orca now seem to be moving again after spending time chasing Sea Lions in Menzies Bay.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River, BC
18:26 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T087,T124A2,T124A2A,T124A2B◦ near Orange Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
19:00 • Biggs Orca at Tyee Spit mid Discovery Passage.
Thu Mar 28 2019
12:25 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north at Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
1 big fin and 1 small fin.
16:25 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T010 Langara,T010C Bones◦ heading north in Cordero Channel.
Travelling towards Loughborough Inlet.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Fri Mar 29 2019
14:35 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north at Eastwest Bay on Maurelle Island, Calm Channel.
I first saw them at the entrance to Whiterock Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
15:03 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ entering east end of Hole in the Wall.
17:48 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T137s◦
moving slowly, heading north above Shelter Point south of Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
18:58 • Biggs Orca heading north passing April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Going with the tide.
Sat Mar 30 2019
10:00 • est. 8 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north close to shore between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Travelling slowly very close to shore. Includes three males. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
10:58 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north-west off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Angling towards Harwood Island.
11:00 • est. 4 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Seen from Beach Gardens Resort. ▫ Observed from Shore
JC, Powell River, BC
11:02 • Biggs Orca off Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Blows were observed.
11:29 • est. 7 Biggs Orca heading north off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
A group of 4 followed by another group of 3 Orca. One Orca with a wonky-finned dorsal fin.
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
12:38 • Biggs Orca west of Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Along the Comox Ferry line.
12:48 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north by Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait.
12:52 • est. 8 Biggs Orca heading north off Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
13:05 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north just northwest of Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait.
15:25 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north between Mitlenatch Island and the NW end of Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
At least two male Orca in the group.
15:41 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north about 1-mile north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
16:10 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north approaching Mitlenatch Island.
16:30 • 7 Biggs Orca heading north between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Sun Mar 31 2019
11:15 • 2 Biggs Orca
doing circles, heading south off Harwood Island towards Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Observed mother and baby Killer whale.
Ulla Clark, Powell River, BC
Mon Apr 01 2019
17:25 • 3 Biggs Orca
hunting, heading north-east off Trail Islands, Georgia Strait.
Looked like hunting some sea lions. ▫ Observed from Shore
SK, Sechelt, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s off of Trail Islands
Mon, 1 Apr 2019 – 1 items
SK, Sechelt, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s off of Trail Islands
Mon, 1 Apr 2019 – 1 items
SK, Sechelt, BC
Tue Apr 02 2019
10:44 • Biggs Orca in the vicinity of Maud Island in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Based on communicataion from naval fleet.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:55 • 2 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading south, Race Point just south of Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage.
Looked like they were trying to out run the loud military boats coming up behind them. ▫ Observed from Shore
AA, Campbell River, BC
11:52 • Biggs Orca heading south at the mouth of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
11:59 • est. 6 Biggs Orca heading south just off Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:07 • Biggs Orca heading north just north of Powell River Ferry Terminal.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
12:14 • 2 Biggs Orca
taking long dives, heading south in front of Hidden Harbour, Discovery Passage.
Large notch on dorsal fin. ▫ Observed from Shore
JR, Campbell River, BC
12:27 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T125A,T128◦ heading south approaching Big Rock at Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
14:12 • Biggs Orca are heading around north of Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Six Bigg’s heading around the north end of Harwood Island Spit
Tue, 2 Apr 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Six Bigg’s heading around the north end of Harwood Island Spit
Tue, 2 Apr 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:35 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T125A,T128◦
taking long dives, heading south 1.5 miles off Williams Beach, Georgia Strait.
12 minute dives.
Thu Apr 04 2019
–:– • Biggs Orca ◦T087◦ heading south past Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
These Orca were observed in the morning. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s, including T087, heading south past Powell River
Thu, 4 Apr 2019 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s, including T087, heading south past Powell River
Thu, 4 Apr 2019 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:09 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south from Sliammon, Malaspina Strait.
Small pod of 2 males (one very big), a female and a young one. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
18:00 • est. 8 Biggs Orca
circling prey, heading north-west just south of the Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
There was a sea lion right at the shore line, and it seemed in rough shape. It had a big indentation on the back of its neck, and was breathing much lighter than they usually do, and was staying in one spot. The Orca were milling around, and every few minutes, in unison most of them would swim in a big arc, get very close to the sea lion, and then arc away again. After at least half an hour, they lost interest and left. The sea lion just stayed where it was. Soon after I got back home, about 500 meters to the south of where the Orca were, I saw another sea lion obviously in distress, and with marks on its back end, moving slowly by our house.
I’m guessing the sea lions had both barely managed to escape an attack, or that the whales weren’t hungry but were just training the young ones how to hunt?
The Orca were also occasionolly spyhopping, tail slapping, and making what I can only describe as farting sounds. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brian Voth, Lund, BC
Fri Apr 05 2019
14:30 • 2 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading north at Hidden Harbour, Discovery Passage.
Looks like the same two that went south yesterday. ▫ Observed from Shore
JR, Campbell River, BC
Sun Apr 07 2019
11:25 • 1 Biggs Orca
travelling, heading north-west mid channel in Georgia Strait.
Bull (male) whale. ▫ From Ferry
PB, Nanaimo, BC
Mon Apr 08 2019
10:45 • 4 Biggs Orca off South Rendezvous Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
11:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ at the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
12:44 • Biggs Orca ◦T002C2 Tumbo,T002Cs◦ south of Penn Islands. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sun Mar 31 2019
14:00 • est. 15 SRKW Orca
playing, heading west off Pasley Island, Collingwood Channel.
Engines out of gear. Orca jumping out of water, swinging around the boat. Diving right under the boat. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Maurizio Hublitz, Burnaby, BC
Southern Resident Killer Whales
About 15 Southern Resident Killer Whales heading west off of Pasley Island
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 3 items
Maurizio Hublitz, Burnaby, BC
Southern Resident Killer Whales
About 15 Southern Resident Killer Whales heading west off of Pasley Island
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 3 items
Maurizio Hublitz, Burnaby, BC
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Tue Mar 26 2019
09:15 • est. 4 Orca heading south at Orange Point, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
11:30 • est. 10 Orca in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet.
The Orca were following porpoises.
Sam Nisbet
Wed Mar 27 2019
13:38 • 3 Orca heading north at Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait.
Seen on Comox Sightings Facebook page. ▫ Second Hand
13:42 • est. 3-4 Orca off Cape Lazo, Comox.
One male and 2 or 3 small fins.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
15:16 • 2 Orca heading south off Donkersley Beach south of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Couple so far long way out that’s south of Albion Point.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading south off of Donkersley Beach
Wed, 27 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading south off of Donkersley Beach
Wed, 27 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Mar 28 2019
09:20 • Orca heading north in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
09:38 • Orca heading north in Seymour Narrows.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north by Seymour Narrows
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north by Seymour Narrows
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
12:01 • Orca heading north at Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north off of Elk Bay
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading north off of Elk Bay
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
13:10 • 3 Orca heading north at Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
They are pointing into Mayne Passage.
14:00 • Orca in Blind Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:15 • 5 Orca heading west by Sunset Marina in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
Included a baby, or youngster. ▫ Observed from Shore
DL, Lions Bay, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading west by Sunset Marina
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 2 items
DL, Lions Bay, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading west by Sunset Marina
Thu, 28 Mar 2019 – 2 items
DL, Lions Bay, BC
15:50 • 4 Orca
breaching, heading east just west of Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
AP, West Vancouver, BC
Fri Mar 29 2019
16:18 • 4 Orca heading north, north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
2 male Orca and 2 small fins. ▫ Observed from Shore
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Sun Mar 31 2019
–:– • Orca near Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet.
Observed in the evening.
Sam Nisbet
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale near Porpoise Bay
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Sam Nisbet
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale near Porpoise Bay
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 1 items
Sam Nisbet
11:47 • 4 Orca at the mouth of Salmon Inlet, Sechelt Inlet.
15:08 • Orca heading south off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading south off of Grief Point
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale heading south off of Grief Point
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Apr 02 2019
10:00 • est. 4-6 Orca
foraging, heading north midway between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Taking long dives. Close to mainland shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River
10:00 • est. 4-5 Orca heading north close to Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.
One big fin.
Mon Apr 08 2019
11:02 • est. 6-7 Orca heading north towards Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Apr 09 2019
17:25 • est. 3+ Orca
moving slowly, heading south-east towards Dorcas Point, Nanoose Bay, Georgia Strait.
Brief sighting. Steady leisurely travel then vanished underwater. Very close together. The Orca pod was also sighted by someone else off the nearby Seacrest neighbourhood just south of here. Later I saw them circle back around and they were hunting between the Beachcomber spit area and Ballenas Islands, and then they raced north. When I examined my photos in detail I could see that the big male’s fin appeared to be thin and at a slight angle about 1/4 of the way from the top of the fin, and another (smaller) whale’s dorsal fin seemed to have white spots on it although I suppose that could have been froth. ▫ Observed from Shore
KH, Nanoose Bay, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu Mar 28 2019
16:30 • Humpback Whales passing Chrome Island, Baynes Sound.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Sun Mar 31 2019
15:32 • 1 Humpback Whales
resting in Deer Passage.
First Humpback of the season.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
16:02 • 1 Humpback Whales heading for Connis Point, West Redonda Island, Deer Passage.
One small Humpback. Spotted again a few minutes later.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Mar 27 2019
15:50 • PWS Dolphins
frolicking, by Lee Islands, Nodales Channel.
Small group.
Fri Mar 29 2019
13:35 • 12 PWS Dolphins southwest of South Thormanby Island, Georgia Strait.
16:13 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins
resting, at Sheer Point on Read Island, Hoskyn Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Sat Mar 30 2019
12:40 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins
moving quickly, heading north off Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Tatia MacGregor, Campbell River, BC
12:52 • est. 40+ PWS Dolphins heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
14:32 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins
circling, off the docks of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Sun Mar 31 2019
15:08 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Grief Point
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Grief Point
Sun, 31 Mar 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Mon Apr 01 2019
12:29 • 20 PWS Dolphins
foraging and resting, between Francisco Point and Center Islet, Sutil Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
19:18 • PWS Dolphins heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Apr 02 2019
11:23 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins
moving slowly, heading north along Grouse Island, Discovery Passage.
Sun Apr 07 2019
09:40 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins heading north at Thurlow Point, East Thurlow Island, Nodales Channel.
Close to shore.
DALLS PORPOISE
Thu Mar 28 2019
12:06 • est. 6 Dalls Porpoise at Sonora Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Sun Mar 31 2019
15:30 • est. 10 Dalls Porpoise heading north-west between Comox (Little River) Ferry Terminal and Powell River Ferry Terminal, Georgia Strait. ▫ From Ferry
Tue Apr 09 2019
13:00 • est. 4 Dalls Porpoise heading north in Sargeaunt Passage, Tribune Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Tue Mar 26 2019
11:30 • est. 50 Harbour Porpoise in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet.
Followed by Orca.
Sam Nisbet
Thu Mar 28 2019
08:15 • 2 Harbour Porpoise at Sunset Marina in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
DL, Lions Bay, BC
15:20 • 2 Harbour Porpoise
foraging, between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Mon Apr 08 2019
14:40 • 5 Harbour Porpoise in the backeddy in Mermaid Bay, Dent Rapids.
SPECIES UNSURE
Mon Apr 01 2019
14:30 • Species Unsure
foraging, off Saltery Bay Park, Jervis Inlet.
We saw a pod of dolphins or maybe Killer whales at the Saltery Bay provincial park on the Sunshine Coast today.They were doing their fish-catching thing of swimming in a circle as a pod to capture fish.
Judy Hansen, Calgary, AB