Humpback Whales and more Super-Pods of Harbour Porpoise
May 31, 2017
— issue No. 2017-013
Humpback Whales continue to work their way into the inside waters between Vancouver Island and the Mainland. Of course, KC and his sister Arial have met up again this year putting on some fancy shows for many whale watching enthusiasts. Fully expect to see, or at least hear about their Mom, Houdini soon. She earned her name by her great appearing and disappearing acts over the many years of her visits to our coast with her calves.
Some, but not many, Orca have been spotted very briefly this report and although listed in our Unidentified Killer Whale category, we believe that these are most likely Transient Bigg’s (meat eaters).
Pacific White Sided Dolphins and a few Dall’s have been seen cavorting and foraging, but of note is another huge Superpod of Harbour Porpoise have been noted in our report. The likelihood of them being the same group as we had in West Vancouver would mean that they travelled a great distance in one day to be at Cape Mudge. Gatherings such as this is very rare for these small Cetaceans.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whale, Apollo, tail fluke off of the Cape Mudge Lighthouse
Society News & Events
Celebrate World Oceans Week with us on June 10th ! Enjoy an evening of great food by David Bowes of Laughing Oyster, music by Devon Hanley, many items for our silent and live auctions including trip for 2 to Las Vegas, Pacific Coastal flight and so much more at Dwight Hall in Powell River. Get your tickets at Hindle’s Gifts and Taws Cycle and Sports or at our information table at Town Center Mall June 1st. Or give us a call to reserve your table!
Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
The camera is mounted at Beach Gardens Marina and work continues on resolving some communications issues to reach the internet. A continued huge thank you to all the volunteers who have, and are, working on this first installation!
Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Note to Safari browser users:
Apple software upgrades may prevent images from displaying on this site. To resolve the problem, please clear your Safari browser cache: On a Mac this is in Safari preferences. On iPad and iPhones, use the Settings app, Safari, Clear History and Website Data.
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-013
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sun May 28 2017
13:59 • Orca near Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
–:– • Orca near Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.
Sat May 27 2017
00:15 • Orca headed past Lund, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Thu May 25 2017
09:00 • est. 3 Orca heading north-west at Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. The Orca stopped briefly at Rebecca rocks.
07:37 • est. 8 Orca heading north-west at Cyril Rock, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster
Tue May 23 2017
07:58 • Orca heading south about 1.5-miles south of Point Cowan, Bowen Island, Georgia Strait.
Randy Hodge, Vancouver, BC
Mon May 29 2017
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Going around the fishing grounds.
12:53 • 2 Humpback Whales off Kitty Coleman Beach Park. Whales among fishing boats.
12:32 • 2 Humpback Whales across from Mayne Passage in Johnstone Strait. Close to shore of Vancouver Island. Information from Tin Man. ▫ Second Hand
11:20 • 2-3 Humpback Whales heading north off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Reported by Lighthouse. ▫ Second Hand
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, at Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:20 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, heading north at Kitty Coleman Beach Park. Big feeding circles in the same spot.
08:56 • 2 Humpback Whales off Kitty Coleman Beach Park. From fishing guide. ▫ Second Hand
Sun May 28 2017
19:31 • 1 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
17:20 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, near Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Breached twice.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale, BCY0767 Arial and BCY029 KC, heading south off of April Point
Sun, 28 May 2017 – 2 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale, BCY0767 Arial and BCY029 KC, heading south off of April Point
Sun, 28 May 2017 – 2 items
17:20 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0767 Arial; BCY0291 KC◦ heading north at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:56 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east about 1.5 miles south-east of the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and heading towards Cortes Island, Georgia Strait.
15:07 • 3 Humpback Whales just south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Three Humpbacks in the area with two heading south and one going north.
14:39 • Humpback Whales breaching, heading south near the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales between Lasqueti Island and Texada Island, Sabine Channel. A small Humpback and non-fluking.
13:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Whiskey Point in the middle of Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:18 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island in the middle of Discovery Passage.
13:04 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0767 Arial; BCY0291 KC◦ heading south off April Point on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
13:00 • 3 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south off April Point, Quadra Island. ▫ On Scene
Tatia MacGregor, Campbell River, BC
10:39 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0767 Arial; BCY0291 KC◦ bucking tide, heading south near the south end of the Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Not making headway. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0767 Arial; BCY0291 KC◦ pointing towards the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Discovery Passage. Both whales pointing south but not going anywhere due to the current.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, BCY0767 Arial and BCY029 KC, pointing towards the Cape Mudge Lighthouse
Sun, 28 May 2017 – 6 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, BCY0767 Arial and BCY029 KC, pointing towards the Cape Mudge Lighthouse
Sun, 28 May 2017 – 6 items
09:36 • 1 Humpback Whales off Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
08:20 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
07:54 • Humpback Whales heading north at the Cape Mudge Fishing Hump off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
07:45 • 3 Humpback Whales in front of Campbell River Rona, Georgia Strait. Information came from a fisherman. ▫ Second Hand
Sat May 27 2017
17:34 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, south of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Young Humpback.
15:33 • 1 Humpback Whales half way between Sentry Shoal and Manson Passage, Georgia Strait.
14:46 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Race Point, Discovery Passage.
14:43 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at Race Point. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:33 • 2 Humpback Whales mid channel north of Copper Cliffs, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:48 • 3 Humpback Whales mid channel off Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales off of Steep Island in the middle of Discovery Passage
Sat, 27 May 2017 – 3 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safaris Naturalist
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales off of Steep Island in the middle of Discovery Passage
Sat, 27 May 2017 – 3 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safaris Naturalist
12:09 • 2 Humpback Whales mid channel off Steep Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:55 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north mid channel off Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
11:30 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCY0767 Arial◦ moving slowly, heading north mid channel at Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
10:12 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCY0767 Arial◦ heading south in front of Painters Lodge, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Side by side.
09:25 • 2 Humpback Whales out from Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
09:19 • 1 Humpback Whales by Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
09:11 • Humpback Whales breaching, in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
08:51 • Humpback Whales breaching, heading north at Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Bradden Kiley,
08:08 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, doing circles, between Big Rock and Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
08:08 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, doing circles, off of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Fri May 26 2017
16:50 • 2 Humpback Whales near Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
14:55 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south at April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
14:47 • 1 Humpback Whales travelling, between Francisco Point and Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. Aimed at Plunger Passage.
14:17 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north off Copper Cliffs, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. One at close to Copper Cliff and one mid channel.
13:24 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
11:35 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north off Race Point, Discovery Passage.
11:33 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Mid-strait.
11:05 • 1 Humpback Whales off Maud Island, Discovery Passage. Last seen at Maud light.
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, heading south off Puget Bluff, Discovery Passage. Following back eddies. Was off North Bluff in about 10 minutes.
09:22 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ between Race Point and Maud Island, Discovery Passage.
07:16 • 1 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north in front of Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Not fluking.
Thu May 25 2017
20:45 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south between Steep Island and Copper Cliffs, Discovery Passage. Facing south into the tide.
16:55 • Humpback Whales heading south in front of Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale heading south in front of Cape mudge Village
Thu, 25 May 2017 – 3 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safaris Naturalist
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale heading south in front of Cape mudge Village
Thu, 25 May 2017 – 3 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safaris Naturalist
16:53 • Humpback Whales heading south, Discovery Passage. Almost mid channel.
16:47 • 1 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
16:34 • 2 Humpback Whales by Keefer Rock off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Graham Evans, Stowaway Adventures
16:13 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
13:27 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Atrevida Reef just north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Heard it three times, saw it once. Heading towards Savary Island. ▫ Observed from Shore
Pauline Decloedp, Powell River, BC
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north-east 1 nm from the shore of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. surfaced twice, assuming one whale. ▫ On Scene
Andy Harper, Gibsons, BC
Tue May 23 2017
11:12 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, one mile south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
One Humpback Whale south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off of Wilby Shoals
Tue, 23 May 2017 – 3 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
One Humpback Whale south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off of Wilby Shoals
Tue, 23 May 2017 – 3 items
10:17 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick◦ off the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals.
09:51 • 1 Humpback Whales just south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals.
08:23 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north near the Cape Mudge Lighthouse at the south end of Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Sun May 21 2017
–:– • 2 Humpback Whales milling, south of Gambier Island, Collingwood Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
David Landry, Blaine, WA, USA
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon May 29 2017
15:50 • 10-15 PWS Dolphins doing circles, in Denham Bay north of Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:40 • 10-15 PWS Dolphins playing, between Denham Islet and Frederick Arm, Dent Rapids.
Sat May 27 2017
15:06 • 50 PWS Dolphins at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
13:46 • PWS Dolphins heading south at Browns Bay.
Bradden Kiley,
13:26 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south Browns Bay heading into Ripple Rock, Discovery Passage.
12:31 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south, Kanish Bay. ▫ Second Hand
Fri May 26 2017
09:56 • 2 PWS Dolphins west of Blinkhorn Peninsula, Broughton Strait.
Randy Hodge, Vancouver, BC
Thu May 25 2017
12:43 • 10 PWS Dolphins in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Tue May 23 2017
12:05 • est. 8 PWS Dolphins heading south close to the shore in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Eight Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south clsoe to the Powell River Viewpoint
Tue, 23 May 2017 – 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Eight Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south clsoe to the Powell River Viewpoint
Tue, 23 May 2017 – 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri May 26 2017
12:09 • 15 Dalls Porpoise off Lawrence Point, Bute Inlet.
Fri May 26 2017
16:49 • est. 100 Harbour Porpoise foraging, between Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Most I’ve seen at one time in my career.
16:35 • 8 Harbour Porpoise foraging, south of Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Just south of Red Can Wilby Shoals.
Thu May 25 2017
15:21 • 4 Harbour Porpoise off Whytecliff park in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. I saw this group surface once. ▫ Observed from Shore
14:43 • est. 50 Harbour Porpoise spread out, heading south off Whytecliff park in West Vancouver. Difficult to track as there were so many of them covering a large area and the porpoises were surfacing at different times. Appeared as though there was a forward grouping of 20 animals followed by a second group of about 30 animals. I was able to observe them for about 20 minutes. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
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:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out “KC”, the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
Bellingham Herald
A gray whale found floating in Bellingham Bay last week was an older female that researchers say was not previously sighted in this region.
The whale, a 42-foot female estimated to be 35 years old, was found May 10 and slowly towed to a remote beach the same day by Fish and Wildlife officials. …
Hakai Magazine
Dolphins appear to be true masters of swimming-leaping, frolicking, and spinning. But as new research shows, dolphins aren’t quite so adept at a related skill: diving. Some dolphins can be stressed to the brink during deep dives, and in some cases, the consequences can be fatal.
Ever since the 1940s, and the early experiments of Per Scholander and Laurence Irving, scientists have assumed …
National Geographic
In drone footage captured on May 18 in Monterey, California, a group of orcas is seen carrying out a coordinated attack on a blue whale.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are known to prey on other marine mammals, including dolphins and seals. But even these fearsome predators don’t stand much of a chance against a mature blue whale: The largest animal on the planet, an adult blue whale can reach up to a hundred feet long and weigh close to 200 tons….
Scientific American
Hundreds of thousands of marine mammals migrate through the gap between Russia and Alaska-and these aquatic commuters are increasingly under threat.
When I try to convey the immensity of the migratory marvel of marine mammals passing through the Bering Strait-a narrow body of water separating Alaska from the Russian Far East-I can’t help but remember my time in New York City.
Between 2012 and 2014, I frequently made the commute from Queens to the Bronx Zoo, where I was based at the Wildlife Conservation Society, via the New York City subway system. After 25 years of living in Alaska…
The Atlantic
Some right whales disappear for years, only to reemerge in strange places with a baby.
Thick fog sat over Cape Cod Bay the morning of April 20, so the survey boat had to work by sound. Every so often, the researchers aboard cut their engine and listened for deep blows to track down surfacing right whales. By mid-afternoon, the fog had lifted, and Marilyn Marx could clearly see markings on one nearby whale that made her excited. "Big white scar!" she called down to the others from the boat’s tower. "Could be 1412!"
Just then, a baby whale popped up next to the massive female. The group on the boat let out a unanimous whoop.
Marx, a scientist at the New England Aquarium in Boston, and the others …
NOAA
Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away. Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. This process is known as "upwelling."
Upwelling occurs in the open ocean and along coastlines. The reverse process, called "downwelling," also occurs when wind causes surface water to build up along a coastline and the surface water eventually sinks…
Hamilton Spectato
You have the privilege of sharing the planet with the largest animal that ever lived on Earth.
The great blue whale, which can be found in every ocean around the globe, is bigger than any dinosaur you’ve seen in a museum.
It can weigh as much as 24 elephants, and can grow up to two school buses in length.
Its jawbone is as big as a telephone pole, its heart is the size of an oil drum, and it can consume up to 2 tons of food in a single day.
“There’s no way to describe how insignificant you feel when you are around an animal this big,” said Ari Friedlaender, an ecologist at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute.
But exactly when whales became the largest animals on the planet – and why – has been a mystery…
Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari
A group of whale watchers had a Monday they won’t forget in a long time after a close encounter with a curious pod of orcas.
Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari shared the video from Monday’s excursion, writing that a female orca broke away from its pod to get “a good look at everybody”.
The video shows the friendly orca getting almost close enough to touch the stern of the boat, much to the amazement of those on board.
“This is a wild animal just coming to say hi to you guys,” a tour manger can be heard saying on loud speaker….
