Orca, Humpback Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Hybrid Porpoise Sightings

Northern Resident Orca, Transient Orca, Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoise and a Hybrid Dall’s/Harbour Porpoise sightings. Plus a catch up report from the bottom of Georgia Strait and south.

8 am Looking across to the Vancouver Island side of Johnstone Strait from the Broken Islands, I spotted a couple of blows and a large, broad looking dorsal. First thoughts were Transients, but later turned out to be one of the A34’s or A36 brothers with A12. It’s possible two of them surfaced together giving the appearance of one broader dorsal from the distance. They were picked up by George, running a Sailcone tour boat by Forward Bay at 9:30 am heading West. By 12 pm they were all spread out across Johnstone Strait up by the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve still heading West.

8 am A12/36’s and A34’s came in from Queen Charlotte Strait overnight and were spread out between Blinkhorn light and the Bight. They meandered about all day, and then headed East down Johnstone Strait at night. These whales have certainly been covering a lot of territory!

8:45 am 6 Transients in the T100’s group passed Campbell River and were left by the red can buoy at the bottom of Quadra Island heading South.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Around 10 am I left the T100’s at Mitlenatch Island after a kill and multiple breaches. Found the T101’s and T102 at Breton Islands at 10:30 am hunting seals. They went up Hoskyns Channel then came back out later and currently, 2:50 pm, headed for Whale Passage and Calm Channel.

Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

3:45 pm Transients in and out of Evans Bay, Read Island.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

7:15 pm Had T101’2 and T102 again at Hill Island Southbound.

Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

9 am till 12:30 pm a total of 6 Humpback Whales were seen in the Bold Head, Blackfish Sound area. They included ‘Moonstar’, ‘Ripple’ and her calf, ‘Freckles’ and another, who’s name I didn’t catch. I missed the afternoon tours count.-SM

11 am Some Dolphins were reported by Eagle’s Cove just above Campbell River.

11:30 am Around 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were spread out, leaping and being very active in Nodales Channel. No direction.

8:30 am 2 Dall’s Porpoise heading into Havannah Channel by the Broken Islands.

8:45 am 1 Hybrid Dall’s / Harbour Porpoise was foraging by Dot Islet, Knight Inlet.

10:30 am 6 Dall’s Porpoise foraging in the tide line by Village Island, Knight Inlet.

The following reports submitted by Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

After two whole days without orcas around (but with Humpbacks and Minkes!) our residents returned to the sound in full force. There were lots of animals around on the way up to see the whales: harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and even a bald eagle! As for the whales, there were groups representing all 3 pods up in the area between Stuart and Pender Islands. When we came on scene the whales we were with appeared to be resting. After about 20 minutes they suddenly turned around and sped up. There were whales everywhere. We were surrounded! (see rest of report under Humpback Whales – SM)

1130am – J and K pod just passed Lime Kiln with a Humpback whale bringing up the rear.

Melisa Pinnow

J+K+L pods were seen off the west side of San Juan Island this evening 🙂

Brittany Bowles

J,K,L offshore from Victoria this afternoon!

Ric Merry

First, no report of whales. Then a report of humpbacks a long way away. Then J Pod. Then Js & Ks. Then Js, Ks and Ls! Yay!

John Boyd

Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca – 1600, K’s and L’s.

Scott Veirs

August 21
BEAUTIFUL afternoon with J’s and K’s on the west side, around Race Rocks so of course lots of lovely sealions too!! For sure i.d’d j2, j8, the j16’s, l87, j27, j28, j32, k21.
Mercedes Powell

August 25
Humpback in Central Puget Sound. 8/25/11; 6:00 AM. Approximately 250 yards east of Fay Bainbridge State Park, traveling North then Northwest towards Suquamish
Jeff Engebretson

August 25 (Continued from Southern Residents report above – SM)

As we prepared to leave the area a Humpback appeared, heading north. We had heard about the animal earlier in the day. We kept our distance and didn’t stop to watch the single whale, as it was entangled in fishing gear and there were boats around with the hopes of untangling it from the line.