Latest Sightings

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Northern Resident Killer Whales, Humpbacks, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise

Nice to see the Northern Resident Orca back in our monitoring area. The Transient Bigg’s are conspicuous by their absence, but were reported in Queen Charlotte Strait, so not totally gone from the lower coast. The other main reports are of Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Harbour Porpoise in large numbers. The surprise is…
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NRKWs, SRKWs, T’s, Humpback, and Minke Whales; Dolphins and Porpoise Too!

So much going on with the preparations for Sea Fair, this report is another long catch-up report. Some exciting news today about the Northern Resident Killer Whale, Springer A73, now 13 years old, who was successfully rehabilitated in 2002 and re-released in Johnstone Strait; she was seen along the North Coast of BC with her…
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Leaping Dolphins, Shy Orca and Humpbacks and Porpoise in numbers

Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Porpoise take over in Cetacean sightings once the last few Orca leave the area. Also notable are the sly Humpback Whales appearing briefly, but staying elusive. Things have been very busy with our society. There are a number of new pages on the main website (links below), as well as…
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Orca, Minke, Humpback Whales, Dolphins, Porpoise and Links – WOWs

Delayed report due to work on the web site. Our Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales headed out of the inside waters…we think. They certainly sped through Seymour Narrows at around 20 knots and were seen as far away as Port Hardy! There is one report of Transient Bigg’s Orca still in the area. Southern Resident Killer…
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Minke Whales, Orca, Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Orca seemed to pop up all over the place, but not today. Report from the North Coast may have been Northern Resident Orca that were known to be up that way. Minke Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and possible Porpoise round out this report instalment. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Have you seen a…
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Orcastravaganza! Speeding Orcas get top billing.

Orcastravaganza! Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales certainly reappeared in numbers; although the ones that went Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet did not come back up this way, many others appeared in the upper Georgia Strait. Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise round out the sightings, while there are a few links of interest after…
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Transient Bigg’s Orca, Grey Whale, Dolphins, Porpoise, S Resident Killer Whales, Minke Whale

Whales, no Whales days, but the Pacific White Sided Dolphins are around avoiding Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales. A Grey Whale disappeared when the Orca showed up. Some Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise seem to pop up when the Orca are far enough away, or when they manage to get away from them. Couple of late reports…
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Cetacean Sightings: Transient Bigg’s Orca Popping up and Four other Species

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales popping up everywhere! Other Cetacean sightings in this report include Southern Resident Orca, Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Dall’s Porpoise. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776or Email your report. Every sighting report is valuable! Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales…
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Cetacean Sightings – Transient Bigg’s Orca, Resident Orca, Humpbacks, Dolphins and Porpoise

Cetaceans everywhere, then they play hide and seek, and boy can they hide when they want to. A reminder to please call or email in any sightings of whales, dolphins or porpoise. For those wondering about the Southern Resident Orca, they are back in the San Juan Islands. No information on the Northern Resident Orca.…
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WOW – Amazing Whale Encounters! Flying Orca, Humpbacks, Dolphins and some small Porpoise

Amazing whale encounters! Orca flying high, just because they were having a good time! Others, both Orca and Humpback, just sleepily floating with the tides. Nice to see the Humpbacks coming through our areas but they have not been as spectacular as the Orca the past couple of days. Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins and…
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Orca Chasing Dolphins, Humpback Whales and other Cetacean Sightings

Humpback Whales are starting to move through and back up the coast. Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales chasing Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise round out this report. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776or Email your report. Every sighting report is valuable!…
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Cetacean Sightings: Killer Whales, Dolphins Everywhere and a few Other Species

Transient Bigg’s Orca spent 4 hours in front of Powell River then did their usual disappearing act! Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in numbers up the inlets with a few Dall’s Porpoise close by. There was also a possible Humpback or Grey Whale. A reminder to please call or submit your sightings reports. We’d rather…
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Cetaceans Everywhere!

Lots of Cetacean activity. This is a long report due to lack of time to post yesterday. Any Volunteers to help out with compiling reports? Report includes Transient Bigg’s Orca, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise and a Link in the News about a Humpback Whale collision with a boat. Reminder again to…
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Transient Super Pod is Back! A few Dolphins and Porpoise Too

WOW – Super Pod of Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales back in the Powell River Sunshine Coast area! First only a few were seen, then their numbers kept increasing… They headed down towards Jervis Inlet or maybe as far down as Sechelt, so please remember to report your sightings. Some others even popped up by Big…
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More Transient Bigg’s Orca, Dolphins and Porpoise

Appearing / disappearing Orca again, but a few were seen again. Confirmed were the T18/19B’s and T23’s from today. We still have some Orca in the area, even if the larger group went South the other day. Keep your eyes open. People were looking and yet managed to miss a few, even though they were…
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Humpback Whale, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise

And poof, they disappeared – again! This report covers: Transient Bigg’s Orca in large, super pod numbers (for them), made an appearance in the San Juan’s together and a few others trailing the rest of the group disappearing in the wind driven waves; a lone Humpback in the upper Strait, who also seems to have…
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales with Calf, Dolphins and Porpoise

First it’s quiet then it’s very busy with Orca. They have been doing the typical Transient Bigg’s disappearing trick. Excitement over a possible brand new calf today! See report below. Photos have been promised, but have not arrived, so unconfirmed at time of posting. Will update calf status in next report. The rest of the…
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale Superpod! Humpbacks and Porpoise Too.

In the latter part of April, I had a sense that something was brewing – see my last two reports. Various pods of Transient, Bigg’s, Orca seemed to be gathering. They culminated in what we can only call a ‘Superpod’ of these meat eating Killer Whales. Today was a confirmation of the gathering. There were…
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Lots of Cetacean activity – Orca, Humpback, Dolphins and Porpoise

Plenty of activity with Orca, Humpback, Dolphins and Porpoise appearing, disappearing, and reappearing along the Sunshine Coast and Georgia Strait. A reminder to all to keep an eye open and please report your sightings. We’d rather hear about it twenty times than not at all. The Humpback sighting is assumed Humpback rather than Grey based…
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Transient Orca, Dall’s Porpoise and more Transients (Bigg’s)

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Dall’s Porpoise, and more Transients in this report. They’re making more appearances. Keep your eyes open, and call it in! Due to lack of time, some updated information and answers to some questions people have raised about branding and branded sea lions will have to wait till the next report. Susan…
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Four Cetacean Species – Things are picking up!

Cetacean activity is picking up slowly. Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoise and even Harbour Porpoise spotted over the past few days. The Sea Lions have also been returning in numbers. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report. Every sighting…
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Transient Bigg’s Orca T086’s and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales reappear in the upper Georgia Strait and Pacific White Sided Dolphins are still around the entrance to Jervis Inlet in numbers. Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report. Every sighting report is valuable! Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales Transient Bigg’s Orca…
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Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Wild Ocean Whale Society – WOW!

Pacific White Sided Dolphins and quiet on the Cetacean front. Hummingbirds are in full force though. That’s at least a smile. At least on this side of the continent we’re getting a bit of Spring. Progress report: The official governing society of Whales and Dolphins BC is Wild Ocean Whale Society….or…. W.O.W. This seems very…
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Dolphins, Killer Whales and Harbour Porpoise

Dolphins all over, some Orca pop up while the others disappear, and a rare, since last year, Harbour Porpoise sighting. A few links in the news below also. Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776or emailyour report. Every sighting report is valuable! Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Orca – Killer Whales…
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins around the upper Georgia Strait. One male Orca, T40 has a very distinctive dorsal and is known as "Captain Hook" for a good reason. See photos below. The dolphins have been foraging around in groups of two to 100. The toll free reporting number 1-877-323-9776 is…
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Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Numbers and Orca Report

Pacific White Sided Dolphins are around in large numbers and one brief Orca report. The calm sunny weather this long weekend should make spotting Cetaceans easier, so please remember to call your sighting in. Every sighting report is important. One link in the news: http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/dolphin-funeral-videos-spark-discussion-about-whether-the-mammals-grieve/ Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC Call our toll free Sightings…
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and News Links

Transient Bigg’s Orca and Pacific White Sided Dolphins make brief appearances. Shows they are around. There were also rumours of a possible Humpback Whale just north of Victoria, so keep a lookout. A few links below including one of a rare species of Dolphin known as and Hourglass Dolphin. There is so much left to…
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A Few Gray (Grey) Whale Sightings and Last Minute Orca Update

After posting this we got word of some Orca, so here’s the report: Unidentified Orca March 24: Hi there, Tracked two killer whales heading south off Rathtrevor Beach this afternoon – between 3:15 and 4:30.  Appeared to be a mom and baby as the little one still had some pink.  They were very slow –…
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NEW Toll Free Number, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Links in the News

New Toll Free Sightings Report Hotline: 1-877-323-9776 I’m pleased to announce that thanks to some of the proceeds from our first fundraiser, Whales and Dolphins BC’s toll free reporting hotline is up and running! There are a few minor adjustments to be made to streamline the service, and promulgate the number. Should you encounter any…
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The Winner is….

Short post – with the link to the video clip of the draw. Congratulations to Graham Blake of Denman Island! Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC