Orca Whale Sightings and Gray Whale Photos

June 10, 2011 — issue No. 2011-065

There were Orca this morning and this afternoon, but they are very good at hiding. Dall’s Porpoises again were spotted a few times as well as Pacific White Sided Dolphins. The reports are below. I’m most excited to report that the Gray Whale that was spotted yesterday (see photos below) by Brown’s Bay is “Dusty” the Gray Whale seen recently in the upper Johnstone Strait / Cormorant Island area. It is worrisome to think that the Transient (meat eating) Orca have left new marks on this juvenile, but we need to accept that nature has her course. We can only hope that Dusty manages to keep clear long enough to get too large for small groups of marauding Transients. For comparison, I have photos of Dusty taken Sept. 2010 on the main Whales and Dolphins BC site or jump to the page from Here .

Another link of interest is an update report and photos of the Hybrid Dall’s / Harbour Porpoise stranded in the San Juan Islands, WA May 21, 2011. Click Here for the link. I don’t know if they’ve come with a name for these Hybrids, but personally, “Hal’s Porpoise” sounds good to me. They used one of my photos of a mother Dall’s with her offspring Hybrid.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Now for today’s Report:

June 10:

Southern Resident Orcas (L-pod) heading west past Clover Point, Victoria BC approximately 5 pm.

Maria Chantelle Tucker, Victoria, B.C.

submitted by; Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

June 10:
2:30 pm The Transient Orca were again spotted (see below for earlier report – SM) by Breton Islands, Hoskyn Channel the ferry was kind enough to report this sightings to Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching. The whales did, however disappear somewhere and were not spotted by the afternoon tours.

June 10:
2:30 pm Dall’s Porpoises by Jimmy Judd Island in the Yuculta Rapids. Heard through broken radio transmission by AJ who was on a water taxi run.

June 10:
1:45 pm Approximately 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were by Mitlenatch Island. From Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching

June 10:
9:40 am 4 to 5 Orca between Marina Island and Francisco Point in a general Southward direction closer to Quadra Island. There was one large male, possibly T102. (see later in the day report above where they were spotted actually North-West of this location – SM)
From: Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

Three Photos below of “Dusty” the Gray Whale

by Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching Jume 9, 2011

Photo shows how close Gray Whales get to and how much they blend into the shore.

Some extensive rake marks behind the blow hole and down Dusty’s right side of the head from possible Transient Orca attacks

White mark on right flank making it easy to identify Dusty the Gray Whale

2011