Active Dolphins and Humpback Whales
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins were observed in a few waterways, and they were very active at the surface making leaps out of the water and bow-riding at another location. These dolphins swim very fast and can easily keep pace with a power boat! Eventhough they are called ‘White-Sided’ dolphins, their sides are really a very light grey colour, much lighter than the rest of the body that is in a darker grey.
A few Transient Orca pods were observed in upper Georgia Strait and a few pods of Northern Resident Orca were observed in Johnstone Strait. Many Humpbacks have remained in the inland channels, with many of them breaching. On the West Coast of Vancouver Island, one Humpback whale (possibly 2) were observed deep in Tahsis Inlet and quite far from the open ocean. A couple of Humpbacks were observed to be bubble-net feeding in Sutil Channel. This is when Humpbacks release air from their blowhole when they are swimming in a circle underneath their prey (schooling fish), trapping the fish within the bubbles (“bubble-net”), and then the whales swim up through the bubble-net to consume their prey.
Boaters, please use caution on the water. Effective June 1st, Federal laws require boats to remain at least 400-m away when viewing Orca and for other Cetaceans, laws require boats to remain at least 100-m from the whales/dolphins. Remember N.E.W.S. when you see a whale, meaning put your boat in NEUTRAL, ENJOY the view, WAIT till the whales are at a fair distance, and then SLOWLY leave the scene.
Note that the release of our regular publications will be interrupted over the next few weeks. Your reports of Cetacean sightings will be processed still, but at a slower rate, due to the changes of the availability of our volunteers. We will be working hard to catch up.
We acknowledge that our sightings map and archive map are not fully functional at this time, and we are working to resolve the issue.
WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
Whales and Dolphins BC Website:
Teaching Resources: We continue to update lessons, activities and resources on our website. Teachers can download information as needed for classes.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Cetacean Web Camera YouTube Channel is live. We appreciate your patience with the intermittent bouncy images from the Beach Gardens Marina camera. Our backup live stream mounted in Powell River appears when the Beach Gardens camera is down.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Not listed in our job postings is our immediate need for IT support. Please contact Susan@…org for details.
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Not listed in our job postings is our immediate need for IT support. Please contact Susan@…org for details.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2019-032
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 10 2019
08:20 • Biggs Orca off Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:39 • Biggs Orca heading north, Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
10:56 • Biggs Orca heading north-west abeam Pinnacles heading to Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Information from Trish. ▫ Second Hand
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:43 • Biggs Orca heading north, Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
12:16 • 2 Biggs Orca heading west, Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. One large fin and one small fin.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:25 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north, Mitlenatch Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:39 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north approaching Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
13:14 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north-west, Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. One male and one female. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:50 • Biggs Orca heading south towards Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca – T065A2 (Ooxjaa) – travelling through the Strait of Georgia
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Val Watson, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca – T065A2 (Ooxjaa) – travelling through the Strait of Georgia
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Val Watson, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Fri Aug 09 2019
10:05 • NRKW Orca at Naka Creek, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
10:30 • NRKW Orca heading east, east of Naka Creek. ▫ Second Hand
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
11:55 • NRKW Orca heading east between Adam River and St. Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait. Large group.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:55 • NRKW Orca at Forward Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
13:00 • NRKW Orca moving slowly, heading east at Windy Point, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:20 • NRKW Orca milling, at St. Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Aug 11 2019
12:30 • est. 20+ NRKW Orca heading west at Forward Bay, West Cracroft Island, Johnstone Strait. In four different groups.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Aug 04 2019
09:00 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, heading south off Ceepeecee, Tahsis Inlet. Sleeping at surface in Tahsis Inlet at Ceepeecee junction. Water was like glass. Originally we thought it might be in distress i.e. trapped in net/lines as was at the surface unmoving – breathing once a minute. After observing for ten minutes it slowly seemed to wake and then casually sounded. Saw it the next day, same place, same time, same behaviour. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Craig Smith, Victoria, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback resting at Ceepeecee Junction
Sun, 4 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Craig Smith, Victoria, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback resting at Ceepeecee Junction
Sun, 4 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Craig Smith, Victoria, BC
Fri Aug 09 2019
07:20 • 2 Humpback Whales between Plunger Passage and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
09:30 • Humpback Whales heading north between Gibsons Beach and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
09:30 • 1 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
09:47 • 3 Humpback Whales between Carrington Bay and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
10:38 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun in the Strait of Georgia
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 7 items
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun in the Strait of Georgia
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 7 items
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:43 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦ heading north, south tip of Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks travelling by Raza Island, Calm Channel
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 8 items
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks travelling by Raza Island, Calm Channel
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 8 items
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:57 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Mitlenatch Island and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. At 11:06, they changed direction and headed west toward Quadra Island.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south between Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper) and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Mother and calf.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
12:24 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:25 • Humpback Whales off Compton Island, Blackfish Sound.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
12:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south close to Harwood Island Bluffs, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback breahcing mid-channel by Harwood Sandbanks, captured from shore.
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback breahcing mid-channel by Harwood Sandbanks, captured from shore.
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:53 • 4 Humpback Whales breaching, south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Two of the four whales were breaching.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:00 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north in Sutil Channel. Mom and calf pair included.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:15 • Humpback Whales in Blackney Passage, Blackfish Sound.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
13:29 • 1 Humpback Whales in Big Bay, Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.
13:36 • Humpback Whales heading north passed Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.
Sarah Hauser, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:02 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦ heading into Raza Passage.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:10 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0837 Tempest◦ heading north between Cortes Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Tempest and calf.
Tenacious 3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
14:35 • 2 Humpback Whales moving quickly, between Toba Mountain and Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
14:35 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales in Raza Passage.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:21 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
15:32 • Humpback Whales approaching Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:00 • Humpback Whales heading north at Hall Point on Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
17:25 • Humpback Whales heading south off Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Just took a dive. ▫ Observed from Shore
19:21 • Humpback Whales ◦BCY Apollo◦ doing circles, between Harwood Island and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Aug 10 2019
07:44 • 1 Humpback Whales off the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
08:26 • 1 Humpback Whales off Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
08:56 • 1 Humpback Whales off the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:02 • 1 Humpback Whales by April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:09 • 3 Humpback Whales near Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait.
09:09 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north abeam the north side of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:21 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, Coho (Kiddie) Point NW tip Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:33 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Tenacious 3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
09:45 • 5 Humpback Whales around Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north, Penn Islands.
Ryan Stewart, Sonora Resort
10:15 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south, Crescent Bay, Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:20 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:22 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north, Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
Ryan Stewart, Sonora Resort
10:26 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ heading south, Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:28 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ heading south between Wilby Shoals and Shelter Point, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:35 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Checkmate◦ doing circles, south of the ferry line near Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:47 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ heading south between Wilby Shoals and Shelter Point, Georgia Strait.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:08 • 2 Humpback Whales off Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:13 • 5 Humpback Whales between Bullock Bluff and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
11:40 • 2 Humpback Whales bubble netting, east of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north-west off the marina at Tahsis, Tahsis Inlet. Blow air, splash tail. ▫ Observed from Shore
MS, Tahsis, BC
14:36 • 2 Humpback Whales between Read Point and submarine cables off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf pair.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:40 • 1 Humpback Whales in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:43 • 1 Humpback Whales off Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. The whale just dove.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:55 • 2 Humpback Whales between Sentry Shoal and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
14:55 • 2 Humpback Whales off Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:59 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:08 • 2 Humpback Whales close to Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:21 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north, Harwood Island Bluffs, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
16:22 • 2 Humpback Whales close to Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Mother and calf pair. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whales frolicking, heading south-east, Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
17:37 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, off Harwood Island. Rolling around. ▫ Observed from Shore
17:38 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
20:22 • 4 Humpback Whales off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Lots of flukes and some breaches.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Aug 11 2019
07:55 • 2 Humpback Whales by Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
09:44 • Humpback Whales by the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:52 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, south of the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay.
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales near Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, off the shore of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
10:23 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales in Deer Passage. Information from Eaglemaster. ▫ Second Hand
10:23 • Humpback Whales near Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
10:50 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Splashing. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:50 • 2 Humpback Whales near Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
10:50 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south down Lewis Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:55 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, on Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:05 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, half mile off the scallop farm off Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:14 • 2 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north between Raza Island and Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:42 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south two miles off the marker at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:21 • Humpback Whales resting, between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
12:27 • 3 Humpback Whales breaching, heading for Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Active for about 25 minutes; continuous breaching.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:33 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south from the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
14:58 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Raza Point, Calm Channel.
16:13 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:48 • Humpback Whales heading south off Beach Gardens Marina below Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
16:53 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south close to shore at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
17:20 • 3 Humpback Whales just north of Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
17:20 • 2 Humpback Whales along the shore towards Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
18:34 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
19:34 • est. 5-6 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Apollo◦ heading north in front of the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging in the Strait of Georgia
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 5 items
Val Watson, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging in the Strait of Georgia
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 5 items
Val Watson, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Aug 09 2019
07:25 • est. 50+ PWS Dolphins at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:43 • PWS Dolphins heading east off Adam River, Johnstone Strait.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
14:50 • est. 20+ PWS Dolphins west of Earl Ledge, Hardwicke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Aug 10 2019
11:34 • PWS Dolphins heading south-east off Coho (Kiddie) Point, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Small group.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Sun Aug 11 2019
12:08 • PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading east off Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait. Small group. Reported by David. ▫ Second Hand
Shea Majbroda, Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins putting on a show!
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 9 items
Stuart Clark, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins putting on a show!
Fri, 9 Aug 2019 – 9 items
Stuart Clark, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins having fun!
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins having fun!
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling down the south side of Vancouver Island spotted from the MS Volendaam
Tue, 16 Jul 2019 – 2 items
Lisa Taner, MS Volendaam
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling down the south side of Vancouver Island spotted from the MS Volendaam
Tue, 16 Jul 2019 – 2 items
Lisa Taner, MS Volendaam
DALLS PORPOISE
Fri Aug 09 2019
11:50 • 5 Dalls Porpoise playing, off Horn Point near Sonora Island, Dent Rapids.
Sarah Hauser, Campbell River Whale Watching
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