Lone Orca by Powell River Plus

It’s the first time in a over a year that I’ve seen a lone Orca. They are social animals, so there are generally other whales around at the same time. Transient Orca T14, born in 1969 was known for frequently travelling alone, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him for around one year. The last few sightings of him, he was with other whales. Few more sightings reports of Southern Resident Orca, Transients, and photos of the Orca by Cape Mudge follow.

10:20 am Caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of something dark in the water. Managed to get the binoculars on this one large male Orca surfacing for three more big breaths before the Texada ferry rounded the light off Blubber Bay. For 20 minutes, I kept scanning the whole area off Westview, Powell River for signs of the same or other whales, but never saw another dorsal or blow. He did a bit of a direction change initially heading towards Rebecca Rocks, but I can’t even confirm that he didn’t turn back South-East. Amazing how stealthy a large animal can be!

2 + Orca were tight to shore close to Earl’s Cove heading towards Egmont, Sechelt Inlet. They were spotted from the ferry.

Additional third hand reports came in of two other sightings around either the last couple of days of February or first couple of days of March of at least 4 Orcaalso seen from the Earl’s Cove to Saltrey Bay ferry. I hope to receive details directly from the observers and will pass the information on.

Following Sightings Reports submitted by: Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

March 6
J pod near Porlier Pass, Trincomali Channel (25-30 miles southeast of Nanaimo) 1400 hrs.
Ron Bates

I found J Pod after a lot of searching at the mouth of Porlier Pass in rough seas. They were entering Georgia Strait and I left them pointed for Bowen Island.
Ocean EcoVentures Whale Watching – Cowichan Bay, BC

March 6
Transient killer whales T020 and T021 along with the T086A’s and the T137’s were off of Victoria on March 6th. We left them south of Oak Bayheaded for Discovery Island at 1520hrs.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

4:45 pm – 5-6 transient killer whales hanging out about 2 miles south of Victorian waterfront.
BC Whale Tours

Off Clover Point (Victoria) at 2:18 pm saw a pod of what I assume were transients traveling about 3 miles to the east off Clover Point. There was a group of 5 harbour seals taking shelter along the rocks keeping a wide eye.
Maria Chantelle Tucker

 

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