Transient Orcas T170 and Humpback Whales

July 6, 2011 — issue No. 2011-083

The Orcas were found today! Three groups of Transient Orca including T170 one new to the area, or at least never spotted and confirmed around here before. See photo below. Humpback Whales have been coming down Johnstone Strait through Seymour Narrows then turning back up the Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

July 6:

Today was all about the 8 to 10 Transient Orca:

7:40 am The radio call came in from a fisherman on the boat R&R that he spotted around 8 Orca around the Salmon Point / Miracle Beach on the Vancouver Island side and Sentry Shoal, mid Georgia Strait heading Northward.

8:35 am The first of the tours from Painter’s Lodge found the Orca doing their disappearing act just South of Mitlenatch Island.

10:30 am Aaron, Campbell River Whale Watching called to let me know that he had identified T19B, T19 and possibly T19C in one of the groups. They were still heading in a North-West direction by Mitlenatch Island doing some tail slapping intermixed with long dives.

2 pm Just North of Campbell River by Brown’s Bay and Seymour Narrows a group of 3 of the Transients were spotted by AJ, Painter’s Lodge

2:30 pm Through broken radio transmission I heard that there were “some” Orca by McMullan Point, Dent Rapids. I believe it was Warren on Tenacious 3, Discovery Marine Safaris

4 pm Three Orca including T170 (see photo below) were by Chatham Point working their way up along the Vancouver Island shoreline still in a Westerly direction up into Johnstone Strait.
Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

T170 – July 6, 2011

Photo by Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

6:20 pm The 5 Orca that stayed below Campbell River headed to the East side of Quadra Island and worked their way around and back down Hoskyns Channel towards Heriot Bay by the Breton Islands. This group included T19 and there was at least one calf in the mix.
Jack, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 5:
Two Humpback Whales were spotted by Race Point / Seymour Narrows in the morning (I missed the first report and had hoped to get a time for the first sighting which I believe was around 9 am – SM)
5:20 pm They were close to Maude Island Northbound fighting the large tide in the Narrows.
Garry, Aboriginal Journeys

July 5:

2 Humpbacks north bound in font of CR At Seymour narrows now (8:00 pm)

After we got back from our WW tour, we heard that there were up to a dozen Orca at Bates Beach about 11;30 am this morning !! Confirmation by one senior guide that at least 1 large male. No direction.

Jack, Campbell River Whale Watching

July 5

We traveled a long way – on a spectacular day – to find J-pod very spread out near Active Pass, but well worth the trip to find J2 Granny (she doesn’t look any older), Speiden, Double Stuf and various other J-pod members. What a treat! They were headed towards Cherry Point when we left them to head back to Anacortes.

Jill Hein (SSAMN), Mystic Sea

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

July 5

We took a long trip north today with reports that there were killer whales hanging around Saturna in Canadian waters. The ride out was beautiful. The sun was shining, there was a clear view of Mt. Baker, and the waters were calm and glassy. What’s even better is that the trip up was totally worth it; J-pod was in the area.Riptide and Slick amongst the individuals we encountered. We were able to stop by a buoy where a young Steller’s sea lion was attempting to jump from the water onto it. After a few stumbles, the little guy was finally able to accomplish this feat while the passengers on the boat cheered. After that, we enjoyed the leisurely trip back into the harbor. We were able to identify

Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris, San Juan Island, WA

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

2011