Lots of Sightings Activity

Lots of activity out there. More Transient Orca. These same Whales were in the US by Whidbey Island a couple of days ago. Dall’s Porpoise and smaller groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins as well as a Humpback sightings reports.

2 pm Orcas off Francisco Point, bottom of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. No numbers or direction. Information came from a water taxi friend.

5 pm report: Sounded like 7 Orca near Read Island Northbound.

Hi Susan, Here is our gang from today. We got the call at 1400hrs of Orca off of Fransisco Point on the East Shore of Quadra and got off the dock at 1425. We found the gang westbound in a zigzag pattern about 1.5 miles off of fransisco. We stayed with them for approx 2 hrs. Not much for action in this time, just your usual zigzag transient pattern starting at 5-6 knots and resting after. They came together at Viner point on Reid Island at about 1630 for some socializing. Nice gang to see, not much for action! We then went over to Centre Island where we found the branded juvenile Stellar sea Lion.

11 am Call came in from Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys that there’s a Humpback Whalesighted at Brown’s Bay, Campbell River heading South.

Just the two Humpback Whalereports. One was at about 1000 am from Arron from Sonora resort on a town run. HB was mid channel on the Quadra shoreline(just South of Kanish Bay). Second report was at 1600 hrs at small creek North of Browns Bay on the Van Isl shoreline with his nose pointed South.

Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

4 pm Humpback Whale Southbound Browns Bay.

2:30 pm 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Calm Channel, by Rendezvous Islands.

7:40 pm Large numbers of birds caught my eye as they swooped down to the water to pick off fish. I grabbed the binoculars to see what might be chasing the fish up. Just as I spotted around 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins, the phone rang with a call from neighbour Steve Grover to let me know about them. While watching, there were three large Bald Eagles taking advantage of the fishing with all the other birds while the Dolphins continued to chase and feed, with the occasional leap thrown in. They were back and forth close to the Powell River viewpoint till a bit after 8 pm, at least.

3:13 pm 10 Dall’s Porpoises foraging in Bute Inlet.

April 29

Cascadia Research undertook a survey out of Westport, Washington, and encountered a group of ~25 southern resident killer whales including individuals from both K and L pods. The whales were traveling rapidly to the north. We were able to photograph many of the individuals present and the photos are being sent to the Center for Whale Research and Northwest Fisheries Science Center to confirm identity of those whales present.

April 27

Calm seas, sunshine, and ORCAS!Upon leaving the harbor we traveled along the east side of San Juan Island and found members of the J-Pod at the southern end of the island. For much of our encounter, the whales were spread out over a large distance but would then regroup and spend time within close proximity of each other. Whales were traveling, milling, and exhibited foraging behavior, although no fish were seen. We heard amazing vocalizations using our underwater hydrophone; squeaks, squeals and percussive sounds. Naturalists Colleen and Amy, San Juan Safaris

April 28

A few orcas did their own Tour de Lopez this afternoon coming past the south end of Lopez. A small, slow-moving, tightly packed pod of 5 – 7 orcas traveled east past Iceberg Point, turned and headed out further in the Strait in a westerly drift with at least a dozen boats in pursuit.
Sally Reeve

April 28

One day the Residents, and the next the Transients, and then the Residents and then the Transients… We are soon to finish the best April that I can remember for Orca sightings. Orcas have been seen about two out of three days this April. Amazing. Yesterday it was the Ts off of Iceberg Pt. Lopez Island, with the Cascade Mts. in the background. We left them late, headed in the direction of Deception Pass including T49C and the T124As and T86A and her kids.
Capt. Jim Maya

April 28
We encountered a group of about 12 transients Orcas, including T49As & Bs, at Iceberg Pton our trip this afternoon. These are the same transients we encountered about a month ago hunting seals near Yellow Island. Today, they were grouped tightly together in a resting pattern.
Captain Brian Goodremont and Naturalist Kevin Culmback, San Juan Outfitters

April 27

We had the T086A’s with the T124A’s and T049C east bound heading towards Race Rocks on the afternoon of April 27th. Thanks to Russ from Sooke Coastal for the heads up.
Mark Malleson

April 30

Karen Morton called to 10 am with a report of 1 or 2 gray on the east side of Port Susan, at Country Club, headed south after feeding for about an hour. She said this is the first time she’s seen one so far north in Port Susan.

April 29

My husband and I were in the South Sound (Case Inlet) and saw a whale today around noon. We couldn’t tell if it was a grey what or a humpback. We saw it moving North toward Allyn and since there’s no outlet going that way we thought we would see it going South but we never did. It was a very cool experience!
Thanks!
Beth Benson

April 29

One gray whale between Gedney Island and Camano Head at 11:30 this morning.
Stephanie Raymond

 

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