Humpback whales continue to make their presence known in many inland waterways as they perform various behaviours, including breaching, spy-hopping (as in our cover image), pectoral slapping, and tail slapping. These may be ways the whales play but they also may be forms of communication amongst them. One can only be surprised and ecstatic when seeing large (and small) whales behave in these ways.
Northern Resident Orca have been observed at the north end of Johnstone Strait while Transient Orca have been spread out over a larger geographic area. Large pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins have been travelling around in Johnstone Strait, Bute Inlet, and Pryce Channel. Rounding our report are a few sightings of Dall’s porpoise and one sighting of Harbour porpoises.
Boaters, please use caution on the water. Federal laws require boats to remain at least 400-m away when viewing Southern Resident 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.
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.
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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2019-036
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri Aug 23 2019
12:50 • Biggs Orca ◦T060s◦ heading north between Elma Bay and Little River, Georgia Strait.
Approximately 1 mile off shore along the coastline. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca travelling up the Strait of Georgia
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 4 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca travelling up the Strait of Georgia
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 4 items
13:00 • Biggs Orca heading north between Kitty Coleman Beach Park and Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
About 1.5 miles offshore. They appear to be directing towards Vancouver Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca headin north towards Vancouver Island
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 5 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca headin north towards Vancouver Island
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 5 items
15:07 • Biggs Orca heading north almost abeam Shelter Point south of Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Mile and a half off shore doing 6 knots.
15:25 • Biggs Orca heading north at Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait.
Mile and half out from Vancouver Island.
15:50 • est. 10 Biggs Orca north of Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet.
On the west side of the inlet. ▫ Second Hand
16:15 • Biggs Orca heading north off Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
18:05 • Biggs Orca heading north at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
20:19 • Biggs Orca heading north at No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
Travelling at 7 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Sat Aug 24 2019
19:30 • Biggs Orca, Sechelt Inlet.
Sun Aug 25 2019
10:30 • Biggs Orca heading west at Turn Island, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
10:40 • Biggs Orca at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
12:00 • Biggs Orca heading west at Edith Point at the west end of East Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
12:30 • 1 Biggs Orca in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Male.
12:40 • Biggs Orca
bucking tide, heading west at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
2 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:10 • 1 Biggs Orca
bucking tide, abeam Puget Bluff, Discovery Passage.
Lone male, moving between 3-5 knots.
14:35 • 1 Biggs Orca heading north abeam Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
5 knots.
15:37 • 1 Biggs Orca south end of Granite Bay, Discovery Passage.
4 knots.
Mon Aug 26 2019
10:46 • Biggs Orca heading south at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
11:27 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south almost at Elk Point, Discovery Passage.
12:30 • Biggs Orca heading south off McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
14:40 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south mid-channel off Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:25 • 5 Biggs Orca passing Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
16:10 • Biggs Orca heading south off Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
17:54 • Biggs Orca
travelling, heading south between Shelter Point and Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
4 kts. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Tue Aug 27 2019
17:51 • 6+ Biggs Orca heading south past Mouat Bay moving towards Lasqueti Island, Georgia Strait.
Observed 2 to 3 big fins.
Lee Stephens, Texada Island
18:03 • Biggs Orca heading east at Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
VHF message from Shea Majbroda. ▫ Second Hand
18:45 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca heading south at Chatham Point.
18:57 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦
travelling, heading east, a half mile south of Chatham Point.
Moving at about 4 knots.
19:15 • Biggs Orca
travelling, heading south one mile north of the Cinque Islands along the shore of Sonora Island, Discovery Passage.
Doing about 5 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 24 2019
12:30 • NRKW Orca ◦A30s,◦
foraging, off Flower Island, Blackfish Sound.
I15s included in the pod.
12:47 • NRKW Orca heading east one mile back from Bold Head, Swanson Island, Queen Charlotte Strait.
14:00 • NRKW Orca near Penfold Islet, Queen Charlotte Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Tue Aug 27 2019
12:16 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ straddling the eastern boundary of Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, Johnstone Strait.
Also I15s and many others.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Aug 19 2019
12:45 • 2 Humpback Whales
foraging, heading north in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Feeding including bubbling. Frequent surfacing. ▫ Observed from Shore
DP, Campbell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Mon, 19 Aug 2019 – 2 items
DP, Campbell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Mon, 19 Aug 2019 – 2 items
DP, Campbell River, BC
Fri Aug 23 2019
12:40 • 1 Humpback Whales
breaching along the ferry line in Sutil Channel.
Along the ferry line.
13:15 • Humpback Whales off northeast side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south on west side of Mitlenatch Island.
Really tight to shore.
14:05 • 3 Humpback Whales
doing circles, north of the pinnacles near Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
15:25 • 1 Humpback Whales near the pinnacles south of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:45 • Humpback Whales north of Glendale Cove, Knight Inlet.
15:50 • 3 Humpback Whales, Sutil Channel.
At disused submarine cables 1/4 mile off Quadra. Heading towards Marina Island.
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun off Quadra Island
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 3 items
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun off Quadra Island
Fri, 23 Aug 2019 – 3 items
16:20 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
About mid channel moving towards Marina Island.
Sat Aug 24 2019
08:08 • Humpback Whales near the pinnacles south of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
08:40 • 5 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
09:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south abeam Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Small whale.
09:37 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south out from the Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:26 • 1 Humpback Whales
breaching, heading south-east off Fraser Island 6, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
DV, East Sooke, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback off the south-east sie of Fraser Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Sat, 24 Aug 2019 – 1 items
DV, East Sooke, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback off the south-east sie of Fraser Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Sat, 24 Aug 2019 – 1 items
DV, East Sooke, BC
10:50 • 1 Humpback Whales
bubble netting, heading south just north of Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
11:03 • 2 Humpback Whales off Zephine Head heading towards Sarah Point, Desolation Sound.
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ at Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel.
12:05 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cracroft Point, West Cracroft Island, Blackfish Sound.
13:20 • 5 Humpback Whales in Blackney Passage, Blackfish Sound.
13:37 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west from Powell Islets to Baker Passage, Malaspina Strait.
14:21 • Humpback Whales off Penfold Islet, Queen Charlotte Strait.
Many whales in the area.
15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales west of West Redonda Island, Deer Passage.
15:13 • 2 Humpback Whales 500-m south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks by south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel
Sat, 24 Aug 2019 – 6 items
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks by south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel
Sat, 24 Aug 2019 – 6 items
15:30 • 2 Humpback Whales
playing, just south of Penn Islands.
Sun Aug 25 2019
07:43 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy heading to Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
07:55 • Humpback Whales off Tyee Point, Johnstone Strait.
Word from Tyee Pool guide. ▫ Second Hand
08:35 • Humpback Whales east of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
09:54 • Humpback Whales heading north , north end Drew Passage.
10:00 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales in Sutil Channel.
Mid-channel near the squiggly lines. ▫ Second Hand
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales outside of Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
10:00 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
10:16 • Humpback Whales heading north, Sutil Channel.
Half mile out from the entrerance to Hole in the Wall.
10:30 • Humpback Whales
breaching, south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Synchro spinning.
11:00 • Humpback Whales off Toba Mountain, Raza Passage.
Friendly.
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east in Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Right along the shore of Vancouver Island.
11:08 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:37 • Humpback Whales heading north, south end Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Along the shore of Vancouver Island.
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦
bubble netting, between Rendezvous Islands and Toba Mountain, Calm Channel.
Friendly. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Hall Point and Denham Island, Dent Rapids.
14:21 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza,BCY0291 KC◦
doing circles, between Harbott Point and Kellsey Point, Yuculta Rapids.
14:22 • 1 Humpback Whales off Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks off Powell River near Emmonds Beach, BC
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks off Powell River near Emmonds Beach, BC
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:24 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west, west of Redonda Bay towards Rendezvous Islands, Deer Passage.
15:45 • Humpback Whales off Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun in Calm Channel
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 – 3 items
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks having fun in Calm Channel
Sun, 25 Aug 2019 – 3 items
15:55 • Humpback Whales heading west along Gillard Islands, Yuculta Rapids.
15:58 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Coulter Island, Sutil Channel.
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales
breaching, heading south at Orange Point, Discovery Passage.
16:15 • Humpback Whales heading south at April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Information from a friend. ▫ Second Hand
16:40 • 2 Humpback Whales southeast of Raza Island, Deer Passage.
Mother and calf.
16:50 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza,BCY0291 KC◦
bucking tide, in Innes Passage, Yuculta Rapids.
Rolling around with the sea lion raft.
18:11 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Big Bay, Yuculta Rapids.
Fishing in the tide.
Mon Aug 26 2019
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza,BCZ Hourglass◦ top of Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
09:45 • 1 Humpback Whales between Marina Island shack and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
10:04 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Okisollo Channel, Hole in the Wall.
10:21 • 2 Humpback Whales between Rendezvous Islands and Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Heading towards Bartlett Islet.
10:25 • 3 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
11:00 • 3 Humpback Whales between Spilsbury Point and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
11:13 • 2 Humpback Whales above Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
14:34 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Church House, Calm Channel.
300 metres off shore.
15:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south-west at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
15:36 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at Salmon Point, Georgia Strait.
15:58 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ0338 Geometry◦ heading south between Francisco Point and red can at Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales
travelling, heading north along Carrington Bay along Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales
travelling, north of Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
18:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, Lewis Channel.
18:08 • 3 Humpback Whales off Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.
22:00 • 1 Humpback Whales near Malaspina Park, Desolation Sound.
Listening to the humpback from our camp in Feather Cove. ▫ Observed from Shore
Tue Aug 27 2019
07:55 • 2 Humpback Whales
bubble netting, off Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
A mom and her calf. Oberved again a few minutes later. ▫ Leaving the Scene
08:05 • Humpback Whales in front of Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
08:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south 1 mile off Elma Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
09:30 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Rendezvous Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north 1 mile northwest of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
11:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south top of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
11:19 • 2 Humpback Whales off Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Active.
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ off Church House, Calm Channel.
Pointed into the tide.
12:05 • 2 Humpback Whales
travelling, mid channel south of Mitlenatch Island heading towards Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
12:20 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ of the shore of Sonora Island just east of Yuculta Rapids.
13:00 • Humpback Whales
breaching; doing circles, between Hill Island and the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Lots of peck slaps as well.
13:20 • 3 Humpback Whales between Whale Passage and Drew Passage, Sutil Channel.
Along the Read Island shoreline heading towards whale passage.
13:35 • 2 Humpback Whales between Spoil Grounds and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Heading for Mitlenatch.
14:00 • 3 Humpback Whales off Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.
Active whales.
14:14 • 1 Humpback Whales off Harbott Point, Calm Channel.
14:15 • 2 Humpback Whales
breaching, off Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
14:43 • 1 Humpback Whales below Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales
taking long dives, west of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
A quarter mile off shore.
16:10 • 2 Humpback Whales east of Spoil Grounds, Georgia Strait.
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whales
breaching near the Chancellor Channel end of Wellbore Channel.
Reported by Discovery Launch 2. ▫ Second Hand
16:45 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Greene Point, Cordero Channel.
Been there all day trap feeding.
17:16 • 3 Humpback Whales between Von Donop Inlet and Bullock Bluff, Sutil Channel.
Active whales.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Aug 23 2019
15:30 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins heading south between Fawn Bluff and Clipper Point, Bute Inlet.
17:56 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins at Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet.
Heading out of the inlet.
Sat Aug 24 2019
08:55 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins coming out of Bute Inlet.
Reported by Eagle Master. ▫ Second Hand
10:00 • PWS Dolphins
spread out in Raza Passage.
Headed out into Calm Channel and maybe rounding Raza Island to get to Deer Passage.
10:30 • PWS Dolphins off Tyee Point, Johnstone Strait.
11:45 • PWS Dolphins heading into Lewis Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:00 • PWS Dolphins on the west side of West Redonda Island, Deer Passage.
17:57 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins
milling, by Connis Point, West Redonda Island, Pryce Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
19:00 • PWS Dolphins heading east close to Elizabeth Island aiming at Hepburn Point, Pryce Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Sun Aug 25 2019
10:15 • PWS Dolphins at Connis Point, Pryce Channel.
Lots of them, jumping. ▫ Second Hand
10:45 • PWS Dolphins heading east at Elizabeth Island, Pryce Channel.
VHF report at 11:00 – they are now almost at Double Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Tue Aug 27 2019
08:05 • PWS Dolphins heading east at Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
DALLS PORPOISE
Sat Aug 24 2019
11:40 • Dalls Porpoise at Forward Bay, West Cracroft Island, Johnstone Strait.
Sun Aug 25 2019
09:45 • Dalls Porpoise
playing, at Johns Point, Nodales Channel.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Fri Aug 23 2019
16:01 • est. 3 Harbour Porpoise off Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
Saw this group only once. Angled northward. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
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