New Group of Transient Orca, KC the Humpback and More

‘KC’ the Humpback Whale (see photo), Pacific White Sided Dolphins, an unusually large, around here at least, group of Harbour Porpoises, and a new group of Transient Orca(see photos) make an appearance in our area.

What a day after a few dry days with few whales around. We left the harbour at 1305 and crossed to the Quadra Island side heading south and KAWOOF!! Full breachalong the Quadra Island Shoreline! Next breath and we knew it was a Humpback Whale!! After the first tail fluke shot I figured it was KC (photo enclosed for confirmation) we followed mid passage for 20 min and left him at April Pointapprox 1335hrs. (Continued under Transient Orca) We picked up on the Humpback ‘KC’ again on our way home. He was 1/8 mile South of Kanish Bay @ approx 1620hrs. The Orca were 1.5-2 miles behind him at Separation Head also still Northbound @ 1630 hrs. Great day today aside from a little Westcoast Sunshine, Cheers!!

May 27:

1:46 pm Humpback off Cape Mudgeheading Northwards.

11:48 am Humpback off Cape Mudge– unsure of direction.

5:15 pm Hi Susan just got a report of a Humpback whale southbound at Cape Mudge 515 pm. Cheers

2:20 pm We started to head South again (see also Humpback Whale report) and after 5 minutes got a report on the radio of breaching Killer Whales at Big Rock in Willow Point! (Campbell River area) We were on scene in 2 min! Took a bit to get the proper ID’s but have come up with the T036 Gang and T099 Gangs, 6 animals total! They were breaching, Taillobbing and spyhopping etc. Maybe had just finished off a kill but hard to say. Time on scene was approx 1345hrs. We left this Gang still Northbound in Discovery at approx 1430 hrs. (Continued in Harbour Porpoise reports) Repeat: We picked up on the Humpback ‘KC’ again on our way home. He was 1/8 mile South of Kanish Bay @ approx 1620hrs. The Orca were 1.5-2 miles behind him at Separation Head also still Northbound @ 1630 hrs. Great day today aside from a little Westcoast Sunshine, Cheers!!

5:15 pm I can’t tell for sure from this distance but I’m seeing some large splashes Northwest of Comoxand heading slowly towards Campbell River. Either Orca or lots of Dolphins. The splashes seem way to large for Dolphins…..I assume Orca.

Around 4:30 pm 9 transients north bound Winchelsea islands. T-90’s T-65 A’s.

Late report originating from Dick Sumner came in that while the big sea lion kill and dolphin bashing was happening with the 15 Orca between Savary and Cortez Islands, there was another group of Transient Orca were spotted in Toba Inlet.

8:10 am 12 PWS Dolphins were headed Northwards in the Narrows by Brown’s Bay.

10:56 am Another 10 PWS Dolphinswere right by Sonora Resort.

2:35 pm Lots of PWS Dolphins spread out by Dent Rapids.

3:12 pm 24+ PWS Dolphins in Bute Inlet by Fawn Bluffs foraging.

3:30 pm Another 24 or so Dolphins by Dent Rapids.

We headed north to Seymour Narrows, found approx 12-15 Harbour Porpoise in Plumper Bay.

2:45 pm 12 to 15 Harbour Porpoisesseemed to be grouped together by Steep Island, Discovery Passage and a few additional groups with 2 to 4 in each were in Nodales Channel from How Island to Sonora Point.

 

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