The Challenge to See Whales
Cover Image:
A breathtaking breach from the ocean’s gentle giant!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
As we enter the Autumn season, it will become more challenging to observe Cetaceans out on the water. Windy conditions can create larger waves and stormy weather reduces the visibility, making it more difficult to spot the blows, dorsal fins, and/or tails of whales and dolphins. However if you are near the water or out on the water, keep looking for Cetaceans. There are still a number of Humpback whales in the area before they migrate to warmer waters. Humpback whales were reported in upper and central Georgia Strait, in Howe Sound, and off the south end of Vancouver Island (between Victoria and Sooke). Transient Orca are always present and can be seen throughout the year in and around coastal areas and adjacent waterways. Northern Resident Orca were also observed recently in upper Georgia Strait in the middle of September. Let us know what whales, dolphins, or porpoises you are able to see.
As a reminder that if you are boating and out on the water, please be aware of the presence of whales and dolphins. Signs of their presence may include blows of the Cetaceans and other boats stopped or moving slowly in an area. Boats and other water craft (e.g. kayaks) must remain at least 1-km away from Southern Resident Orca and at least 200-m away from other Orca (Transients and Northern Residents). See the full government regulation in the following paragraph.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Keep 1,000 metres away from Southern Resident killer whales in southern B.C. coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. Keep 200 metres away from all other killer whales in British Columbia (B.C.) and the Pacific Ocean”. A minimum distance of 200-m must be maintained when viewing any Cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins, and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, a minimum distance of 100-m must be kept. A great resource for up to date Canadian or US regulations: Be Whale Wise Guidelines.
WOWs works throughout 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
Donatons:
Donations can be made directly by e-transfer to accounting@ wows.org (remove the space after the @) as well as through our Donate button on our website pages.
Thank you all for your kind and continuing donations. Your support is greatly appreciated – we can't do it without you.
Thank you all for your kind and continuing donations. Your support is greatly appreciated – we can't do it without you.
Websites:
Whales and Dolphins BC is our educational website where these reports are also published and our Wild Ocean Whale site is our Society website. Information on our Feral Cat Initiative will be updated again soon. We apologize for delays, but we are volunteers working on this and all society and animal needs come first before website work.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live Web Camera YouTube Channel streams from Powell River 24/7 with views towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing some of the many whales and the Aurora Borealis and eclipses.
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? Updates on current availabilities and revised links will be posted here.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are slowly being revamped (we're volunteers too, so sorry for the delays) and not up to date on our web sites, but we do monitor and receive applications.
Data For Research:
For research access to 40,000+ sightings in our database in downloadable csv files for use in spreadsheets, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2026-012
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Thu Sep 17 2026
13:03 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ milling, 2 miles off Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
19:20 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca east of Grilse Point at the north end of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. They keep changing directions.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Sep 18 2026
13:12 • 4 Biggs Orca spread out, heading north off the west side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
15:14 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north at the northwest end of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Sep 20 2026
11:40 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south at Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait. 2 males.
13:25 • Biggs Orca heading east near Breton Islands, Sutil Channel. Very stealthy group.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Wed Sep 23 2026
13:14 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s,T101s◦ heading south near Coulter Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Sep 24 2026
13:21 • est. 6-7 Biggs Orca heading south just past Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Sep 25 2026
11:47 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south past Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sat Sep 26 2026
10:44 • Biggs Orca on the east side of Harwood / Ahgykson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Sep 27 2026
15:20 • 2 Biggs Orca hunting, heading south, William Head, Strait of Juan de Fuca. From 1520-1620, zig zagging, circling, spy hopping, short dives, 2 big males, multiple tail slaps, went around William Head before heading south, 1 was possibly orca Jude T049A2 (fin leaning to the right). ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Today was a fabulous orca day! 4 families (T002C’s,T23D’s,T100’s and T101’s)
Sun, 27 Sep 2026 – 8 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Today was a fabulous orca day! 4 families (T002C’s,T23D’s,T100’s and T101’s)
Sun, 27 Sep 2026 – 8 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
It was a good orca day today with the T100’s and the T101’s
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
It was a good orca day today with the T100’s and the T101’s
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
We saw my favorite little family of orca’s (T002C’s and T002B) today out on tour
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
We saw my favorite little family of orca’s (T002C’s and T002B) today out on tour
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Mon Sep 14 2026
13:00 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ milling, off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Sep 15 2026
12:19 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading north at Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:11 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ near Whaletown, Cortes Island. The two groups met up and then seperated shortly afterwards.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Wed Sep 16 2026
14:01 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ heading north-west between Vivian Island and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Northern Resident Killer Whales
We had a visit from the A42 and A25 families of Northern Resident orca
Tue, 15 Sep 2026 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Northern Resident Killer Whales
We had a visit from the A42 and A25 families of Northern Resident orca
Tue, 15 Sep 2026 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Wed Sep 16 2026
13:13 • Orca heading south at the north end of the Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
We had another wonderful day out on tour
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
We had another wonderful day out on tour
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Sep 14 2026
14:00 • est. 3+ Humpback Whales off Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Further out, 1 breached 3 times. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales off Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 – 3 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales off Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Mon, 14 Sep 2026 – 3 items
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Tue Sep 15 2026
13:30 • est. 8+ Humpback Whales ◦BCX2255 Vega◦ foraging, near Christopher Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca. 1 breach, Vega lunge feeding with another humpback until a vessel backed over where they just had been feeding. Then swimming closely together close to shore and displaying very habituating behavior which she has done in the past regularly. Humpbacks in all directions, some far out. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
15:00 • est. 3+ Humpback Whales breaching, at Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca. 1 breaching multiple times, further out. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
15:32 • 3 Humpback Whales milling, near the Pinnacles, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:15 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, heading south-east at the mouth of Pedder Bay, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Wed Sep 16 2026
11:45 • est. 6+ Humpback Whales foraging, off Christopher Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca. 1 calf, breaching, pec slapping, 15+ tail slaps in a row. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
12:30 • est. 2 Humpback Whales foraging, heading north-east off Church Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
13:05 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, at the south end of Harwood / Ahgykson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:30 • est. 8+ Humpback Whales ◦BCX2255 Vega◦ foraging, off Race Rocks, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Multiple tail slaps, pec slapping, lunge feeding, Vega swimming with friend, 1530-1645. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
16:30 • est. 10-12 Humpback Whales between Grant Reefs and the Pinnacles, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
18:00 • est. 4+ Humpback Whales foraging, near Bentinck Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca. 2 adults swimming together and lunge feeding with calf, possible trap feeding. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Thu Sep 17 2026
13:00 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales between Prevost Island and North Pender Island, Swanson Channel. ▫ From Ferry
16:00 • est. 3+ Humpback Whales foraging, off William Head, Strait of Juan de Fuca. 1 lunge feeding close to shore, 2+ in Pedder Bay. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
19:20 • Humpback Whales south of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Sep 18 2026
06:45 • est. 6+ Humpback Whales foraging, off of William Head, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Single Humpback travelling north-east at 0645, humpbacks in different directions between 0845-1100, some slapping, multiple lunge feeds, 2+ in a tight group, a few were far out. ▫ Observed from Shore
14:00 • est. 4+ Humpback Whales foraging, off of William Head. Some closer to shore, some near Pedder Bay and some further out. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Sat Sep 19 2026
06:50 • est. 9+ Humpback Whales ◦BCZ0414 Zephyr◦ foraging, viewed from Pedder Bay to Rocky Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Lots of lunge feeding and breaching, with at least two travelling together. 4+ around Pedder Bay. Humpbacks in all directions, 0650-0730. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
10:45 • est. 7+ Humpback Whales foraging, viewed from Christopher Point to Bentinck Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Short dives, several breaches, a few double breaches near West Race Rocks. Humpbacks in different directions, 1 close to shore. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
18:10 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north-west between Myrtle Point and Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Circling in one area, moving west then east. ▫ Observed from Shore
Elizabeth Kennedy, Powell River, BC
19:40 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales at the mouth of Pedder Bay, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Tue Sep 22 2026
15:52 • 2 Humpback Whales just south-west of Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
18:15 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading south-east off Gabriola Island near the Nanaimo Harbour Ferry Terminal, Georgia Strait. Breaching 2x after observing spout, possibly solo humpback whale. ▫ From Ferry
AW, Cambridge, UK
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales breaching, heading south-east off Gabriola Island near the Nanaimo Harbour Ferry Terminal, Georgia Strait
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 – 2 items
AW, Cambridge, UK
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales breaching, heading south-east off Gabriola Island near the Nanaimo Harbour Ferry Terminal, Georgia Strait
Tue, 22 Sep 2026 – 2 items
AW, Cambridge, UK
Wed Sep 23 2026
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales off Bowyer Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. ▫ From Ferry
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
16:30 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales travelling, off Beechey Head, East Sooke, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Far out. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Thu Sep 24 2026
07:10 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, heading east at the mouth of Pedder Bay, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Lunge feeding. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
08:00 • est. 8+ Humpback Whales foraging, off Bentinck Island, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Breaching, lunge feeding, short dives, whales in all directions. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
10:00 • est. 10+ Humpback Whales foraging, from Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Breaching, lots of lunge feeding. 1+ pec slapping with sea lions and 1 doing several trap feeds. At least 1 calf, whales in all directions, from 1000 to 1130. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
Fri Sep 25 2026
12:30 • 2 Humpback Whales 2 miles east of Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:18 • Humpback Whales breaching, just north of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Sat Sep 26 2026
12:30 • est. 6+ Humpback Whales foraging, off of William Head, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Short dives, a few close to shore, some far out, very active between 1230-1515. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
16:49 • est. 4+ Humpback Whales 2 miles west of Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Sun Sep 27 2026
08:30 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales zig zagging, off William Head, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Short dives, close together, very close to shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:30 • est. 8+ Humpback Whales foraging, off William Head. High activity 1230-1500, short dives, some close to shore, some far out, some by Pedder Bay and Race Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sylvie Gareau, Sooke, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from out on tour the past two days
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
A few photos from out on tour the past two days
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Sep 14 2026
14:00 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins milling, by Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Archive Explorer
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
Chek News
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) crews freed an injured humpback whale that was found entangled in fishing gear off Vancouver Island, with support from American counterparts….
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SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
Digital Camera World
A photographer has managed to capture an incredible moment between a dolphin and an octopus, in which the hapless mollusc was preyed upon by the mammal, identified as a Rissoâ??s dolphin (Grampus griseus). According to the Wildlife Trusts, this distinctive species is identified by its bulbous forehead, lack of a beak, and scarred skin. They start life gray in color, but become increasingly white as they age….
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RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Oceanographic Magazine
New genetic research has provided compelling evidence that the Arabian Sea humpback whale is a distinct evolutionary lineage, supporting the potential for it to be recognised as a fourth subspecies of humpback whale….
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