Orca Pods, Humpback ‘Freckles’, Dolphins and Porpoises

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Orca Pods, Humpback ‘Freckles’, Dolphins and Porpoises

August 5, 2011   —   issue No. 2011-100
Here’s another catch up report, so it’s a long one. There’s been a great deal of Whale, Dolphin and Porpoise activity mostly in the upper Johnstone Strait area. There must be some whales in the South, along the Sunshine Coast, but reports are not reaching me. You can email your sightings to me at: susan@whalesanddolphinsbc.com so I can include them in these reports.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Northern Resident (fish eating) Orca:
August 5:
The A23 and A24 Matriline Pods of Ocra continue to travel in Johnstone Strait. This morning they made their way up (West) as far as Telegraph Cove then turned back down the Strait. They went into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve for a good rub on the beaches and kept the tours at bay, waiting outside the Reserve’s no go area, in hopes of getting a better look at them. They played and foraged inside the Reserve for most of the day, and last report I heard, they were just at the East boundary of the Reserve. From some radio chatter during the day, it sounded like some of them ventured outside the Reserve a couple of times, but not for long or far. This was throughout the whole day from around 8:30 am till 5 pm.
Hi Susan we had about 12 Dolphins near Eve River around 1pm and 4 near Steep Island at 6:45 pm. N we were up at Robson earlier with A23’s and A24’s n lots of wind n chop. Cheers.
August 4:
9 am The A23’s were right in front of Telegraph Cove heading East slowly towards the Ecological Reserve.
Jim Borrowman, Orcella Expeditions
7:30 pm The A24’s were in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
Leah, Strait Watch
August 3:
10 am The A23’s and A24’s were at Kaicache Creek, on the Vancouver Island side of Johnstone Strait across from Blackney Pass, heading East towards the Reserve.
10:30 am Report of 15 to 20 Orca around Pine Island Lightstation, upper Queen Charlotte Strait, just below the top of Vancouver Island.
Bill MacKay, MacKay Whale Watching
2 pm The A24’s were at Cracroft Point at the same time as ‘Freckles’ the Humpback feeding.
August 2:
11 am Some Orca spotted at St. Vincent Bight, across from Port Neville, Johnstone Strait, heading West. Possibly the A23’s.
4 pm The A23’s and A24’s were in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and headed to join ‘Freckles’ the Humpback at Cracroft Point.
4 pm A12 and the two A36 brothers were spotted at Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.
Southern Resident Orca:
August 5:
Southern Resident orcas were seen in the Canadian Gulf Islands today and off the west side of San Juan Island Wednesday and Thursday.
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

We went international to observe a pod rumored to be around the Gulf Islands of Canada. Shortly after crossing the border and entering Swanson Channel we saw a group of around fifteen lively orcas. The surface around them was turning with activity as Mickey Mouse ear pectoral fins slapped the surface, full-body breaches created wakes and tails slammed onto the water. There were three mature males within the mix and the two that were traveling closely together appeared to be the brothers Wave Walker (L-88) and Gaia (L-78) of the L2 matriline.
Kirsten, naturalists for San Juan Safaris Whale Watching

August 3
One of our Straitwatch drivers (Bo Garrett) got photos of K21 yesterday (8/3) with a large wound on his left flank.It is an approximately 6″ oval wound on K21’s left flank past the saddle patch, posterior of the dorsal fin just down from the ridge of the spine. I’m hoping that you can make an announcement about this in your next sightings email update. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is requesting anyone with photos of K21 from the last week (July 29th on) (A photo taken by Gary Sutton on July 28 shows the nick had already occurred on that day – ON) to please forward them to them. The contact is Willi Jansen (Willi.Jansen@dfo-mpo.gc.ca). If you could include that contact info in the update it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much,
Cara

August 1
L-pod, minke. Out into the waters off Salmon bank, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Haro strait meet, we found exactly what we were still holding our breaths for: L-pod of the Southern Resident Killer Whales! The pod was spread out near and off shore and from Cattle Pass up towards False Bay. It was every whale for itself, with a few being social and in pairs and trios. Some seemed to be traveling, others hunting and one frisky pair may have been mating (was he an outsider from J or K pod?). They were heading south but after thirty minutes of viewing, they all of a sudden went offshore and started traveling north. The visibility was excellent (we could see Mount Rainier and Mount Baker!). We found “bird balls” (high densities of birds sitting on the water, potentially on a ball of bait fish like herring). One bird ball took off all at once and minutes later, we found out why: a minke whale had come in to eat their herring!
Serena, Naturalist San Juan Safaris
August 1
Courtney called Orca Network to say J pod is heading west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca this morning from 7 to 7:45 am. She saw J27, J19 and J41 from Port Angeles with a spotting scope, about ten kilometers from shore.
Southern Resident Reports above were submitted by:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
Transient (meat eating) Orca:
August 2:
11 am Transient Orca spotted around Port Neville, Johnstone Strait at the same time as some Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Resident Orca were seen in the area.
6 pm Transients T20 and T21 were travelling close to some Resident Orca, not a common occurrence, in upper Johnstone Strait. Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins were heading straight for them when they suddenly put on the brakes and made a quick turn and getaway.
These Transients disappeared, probably into one of the many inlets, and there have been no other sightings reported as at August 5th.
August 2
I was on the BC ferry (7.45pm) approaching the Duke Point terminal just south of Nanaimo and saw two orcas. They looked like transients and were about 500m offshore.
Cheers, Rob Lott – WDCS submitted by:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
July 30:
I saw what appears to be 4 Transient Orcas off of Gabriola Island. The lone male appeared first and stayed for a little bit in one area. The other 3 joined later. They would come up and go down, staying near the surface in one area, possibly feeding. They then carried on to some rocky islands headed North. My guess is there were seals on the rocks. I even saw one lye on its back and tail lob. I looked through the transients. Is this possibly T030A? Does he have a bend to the left on his dorsal?
It was neat. Only too bad I was on shore! Binoculars were great!
Tim Green
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
July 27:
We left for our 2pm trip with news that a group of transients had been spotted in the morning on the South side of Active Pass. By the time we reached them they were cruising up the east shore of Valdes Island, spread out in a search for seals! We got there just in time to witness 2 kills of Harbor seals and some celebratory activity. In total we witnessed at least 3 kills, 4 spyhops and 4 breaches. We later identified the 4 whales as T101, T101A, T101B and T102, which we were excited to discover, as the last time these whale were in the area was for their famous visit to Stanley Park. Great to see the transients again and a beautiful summer day on the water!
Claire, Naturalist, Steveston Seabreeze Adventures
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
Humpback Whales:
August 5:
2 pm-ish Humpback Whale in Blackfish Sound by the Plumper Islands, top of Weynton Pass.
August 4:
7:30 pm ‘Freckles’ the Humpback Whale was at Cracroft Point.
Leah, Strait Watch
August 3:
10 am A large Humpback Whale headed Westward up Blackfish Sound towards the Plumper Islands. First spotted it in front of Orca Lab, Hanson Island. There was a second blow, but lost sight of it.
11:10 am The smaller Humpback in Blackfish Sound was identified as ‘Freckles’ by Wayne on Lukwa, Stubbs Island Whale Watching. By 2 pm ‘Freckles’ was lunge feeding at Cracroft Point, Blackney Pass while the Resident Orca were foraging for salmon in the same area.
August 2:
2:20 pm till 5 pm (or later) ‘Freckles’ was lunge feeding in the tide rips off of Cracroft Point, Blackney Pass and around towards the Sophia Islands. Some Resident Orca came to forage also….the salmon were also biting the lures!
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
August 5:
Hi Susan we had about 12 Dolphins near Eve River around 1pm and 4 near Steep Island at 6:45 pm. N we were up at Robson earlier with A23’s and A24’s n lots of wind n chop. Cheers.
1 pm 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Naka Creek, Johnstone Strait.
August 3:
AM Some Dolphins reported by Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
August 2:
6 pm Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins must have thought they were heading towards some Resident Orca, who they like to harass, when they suddenly realized the Orca were Transients. The Dolphins made a sudden stop, turn and getaway.
5 pm 30 to 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were chasing feed and feeding while a couple of them wake rode a short distance in Swanson Channel, by Farewell Harbour, coming from Knight Inlet.
11 am 40 to 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins were seen around Port Neville, Johnstone Strait heading West at the same time as both Resident and Transient Orca were spotted.
Dall’s and Harbour Porpoises
August 5:
7:30 pm Some Dall’s Porpoise and Hybrid Dall’s/Harbour Porpoise passed by Cracroft Point.
Leah, Strait Watch
August 4:
8:50 am 2 Harbour Porpoises were foraging by Wedge Island at the entrance to Knight Inlet.
9:15 am 2 Dall’s Porpoise were foraging by Stubbs Island.
August 3:
7:54 am 2 Harbour Porpoises foraging between Knight Inlet and Swanson Passage. Saw them numerous times till 9:30 am.
2 pm 2 Dall’s Porpoise foraging by Parson’s Bay, Blackfish Sound.
August 2:
9:48 am 2 Harbour Porpoises foraging by Dot Islet, Chick Reef area of Knight Inlet.
11:30 am 2 Dall’s Porpoise foraging by Dot Islet.

 

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