Transient Orca, Resident Orca, Humpback Whales

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Transient Orca, Resident Orca, Humpback Whales

August 9, 2011   —   issue No. 2011-104

Resident and Transient Orca from Savary Island to the top of Vancouver Island. Humpback Whales continue to work their way into the Broughton Archepelego, and since yesterday, very few Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been reported, but Dall’s Porpoise continue to pop up.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Northern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales
August 9:
7:30 am A12 and the two remaining A36 brothers were Eastbound into Nodales Channel, just above Campbell River. By 12 pm they were again headed in a Westerly direction back into and up Johnstone Strait.
9 am A23’s and A24’s were at the East end of the Bight, and by 12 pm they were in a Westerly direction by Boat Bay, across from Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
Dave on the SV Tuan, Seasmoke Whale Watching
1:40 pm The A23’s and A24’s had made their way up as far as Blinkhorn, just below Telegraph Cove and made a turn East back down Johnstone Strait at 2:30 pm. The local tours were with them. I dropped the hydrophone to see about recording some of their vocalizations, but there was too much boat noise.
5:30 pm The Resident Orca had slowly worked their way down towards the Bight.
Transient (meat eating) Killer Whales
August 9:
9:20 am 9 Transients spotted by Elk Bay, just above Campbell River and continuing South. By 12 pm they were right in front of Campbell River.
Transient Orca T070 and ?? by Chatham Point
August 9, 2011
10:30 am At least 3 Orca Easting by Numas Bank, Queen Charlotte Strait.
Roy
12 pm Headed out with tour which started right in our front yard with 9 Transients including T070. At 2:40 pm The Transients were at the West end of Savary Island. Some possible hunting, but no confirmed kills. There was a split in the group for a bit but they all came together now.
4:07 pm Just left them on top of Grant’s Reef, South-West off Savary Island, headed for Harwood Island. They all came together for a flurry of over 30 breaches, cartwheels, upside down tail lobs for about 20 minutes. My arm got sore holding the camera! One of my most memorable encounters with Transients in my 12 years of doing this! And we had them to ourselves to boot!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:30 pm 3 Transients were seen around Penfold Islands pointed towards Arrow Passage. An additional radio call relayed that there were more Orca headed East just above Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.
Bill MacKay, MacKay Whale Watching
2:45 pm The 3 Transient Orca were in Blackfish Sound and worked their East way down Weynton Pass. They were doing long dives and bypassed a couple of Dall’s Porpoise and numerous harbour seals on the rocks by the Stephenson Islets. They turned West along the South shore of Pearse Islands then up Pearse Pass into Cormorant Channel. I left them still Westing close to Maynell Point, Malcolm Island at around 4:30 pm.
3 pm There’s a number of Orca, probably transients just off the South side of Savary Island. There’s also a yellow whale watching tour boat with them, so you’ll probably get more info from them. Just thought you should know.
Dee Ingraham, Savary Island
Humpback Whales
August 9:
8:45 am a Humpback Whale was spotted between the Plumper Islands and Stubbs Island at the top of Weynton Pass.
By 11:30 am 4 Humpbacks had gathered in Blackfish Sound.
1:40 pm ‘Freckles’ was in Weynton Pass while 2 large Whales were reported incoming between Fosters Island and Lizard Point plus another Humpback was at Donagal Head lunge feeding on the herring.
At one point there were 5 distinct Humpback blows in the “golden triangle”, Donagal, Plumpers and Bold – all at the top of Blackfish Sound. SM
Minke Whale
August 9:
One large Minke Whale has been seen over a number of days foraging in Cormorant Channel to Stubbs Island through various times in the day again.
Dall’s Porpoise
August 9:
Various small groups of Dall’s Porpoise have been working the tide rips in Weynton Pass, taking brief breaks to bow and wake ride then return to feeding all throughout the day in Weynton Pass.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
August 9:
I heard a couple of reports on the radio, as well as saw in Weynton Pass, a couple of Dolphins close to the Bight, but I missed jotting down times.
From our Friends in the South:
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA
Southern Resident Orca
August 7
Members of J, K & L pods passed by Lime Kiln from 8-11am, first heading north and then back south again. J8 put on a bit of a show with several breaches. Many cartwheels and a few tail lobs from some of the others. Members present included J2 & K12. Impressive! Cherish Morrison
Transient Orcas
August 5
T41, T41a and very young calf found at 2pm around Cleland Island, SE of Flores Island off Tofino. Jamies whale watching zodiacs were watching these animals as well as grays and humpbacks well into the evening. Claire Mosley
Mystery Orcas – (Possibly Dolphins-SM)
August 7
We saw a large pod of orcas, August 7 at 9:30 am at Columbia Beach, French Creek (northern Georgia Strait, about 20 miles north of Nanaimo, BC). There were at least a few hundred, heading south. Cathy McDougall
Humpback and Minke Whale
August 8
Very unusual sighting today…a humpback! It was right on the west side of San Juan Island. We motored around cattle point and saw a bunch of boats in one area. Everyone eagerly searched for what could possibly be nearby. Then we saw the spout followed by its large back. We watched for a while and were able to see it go down for two deeper dives, arching its back and exposing its fluke. Plus, when it exhaled, it sounded like it was wheezing because it made a high pitched, scratchy sound. It was just amazing!
That wasn’t all that we saw today. We saw a minke whale, not so far from where we spotted the humpback. There also were lots of harbor seals in the water and hauled out on the rocks. Plus, at least ten steller sea lions were on top of whale rocks. Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris

 

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