Transients, Humpbacks and lots of Dolphins

Transients, Humpbacks and lots of Pacific White Sided Dolphins. Humpback and T20 photos.

Transient Orca T-20 for the blog tonight If I make it! We had this guy by himself at apporox 1810 hrs in Sutil Channel (between Marina Island and Francisco Point, Quadra Island) headed south at 6 knots! Couldn’t find his Gang anywhere around him.

11:14 am Orca in Lewis Channel Northbound apparently…don’t know who’s with them. From tugboater.

11:55 am Sounds like 6 Orca 1 big fin just entering Deer Passage Northbound. (just above Desolation Sound – SM)

12-14 Transient Orca northbound off Nanaimo last night (May 12). Left them about 4pm just south of Nanaimo. This is from my buddy Simon from Ocean Eco Adventures in Cowichan Bay. Have to watch around this aft

May 11:

Around 9:30 pm as the sun set, Orca Northbound by Campbell River. Got report on 12th.

About 6 pm 5 or 6 Transient Orcaincluding 1 sprouter (juvenile male) and at least 1 calf with an orange tinge on the white eye patch were tight close to the Discovery Pier by Campbell River. One female went right inside the pier into about 10 to 15 feet of water. I watched from shore and followed them to Tyee Spit and watched their blows to another bay across the channel across from April Point lodge. They were incredibly active doing spy hops, tail lobs and head stands waving their tail flukes in the air. All the seals disappeared up the river into very shallow water.

May 13:
We also (see Orca and Dolphin reports) had the Humpbacks known as KC & Ariel at approx 1430 hrs slowly foraging North in Discovery Passage 1/4 mile North of Browns Bay. Just lazy fluking today. (first reported in the morning – SM)

9:57 am 2 Humpback Whales in Seymour Narrows.

We received a report from Garry of Aboriginal Journeys @ approx 1330hrs of one, possibly two Humpback Whales Northbound in Discovery Passage on the Vancouver Island shoreline at a spot we call No Name Creek (Approx 3/4 mile North of Browns Bay) Garry stayed with the animals for us and we arrived on scene at 1425 hrs. By this time they had moved across Discovery Passage and were travelling slowly very tight to the Quadra Island shoreline. They were approx 3/4 mile South of Kanish Bay at this point. After a look at the two and a couple of tail shots my first instinct was to say KC and a friend (comparing to a couple of days ago I see that I am right on KC just don’t know the other well enough) After 15 minutes of viewing they moved into deeper water then KAWOOF! Full breach I believe from KC then another! Then some tail lobs which may have come from the other animal or both I’m not fully sure. We left them headed into Kanish Bay at approx 1540 hrs……what a fantastic viewing! I’ve enclosed the ID shots and a couple others for a treat, enjoy!

From Jackie Hildering:
Humpback tail flukes is BCY0767 aka “Arial”.
It is of great interest to know they were together. Thank you so much for the sighting Nick. I share with you that KC is very acrobatic. He is the whale that even ended up on the front page of the Campbell River Courier in full breach.
See blog item about that sighting here.http://themarinedetective.com/2011/07/13/identifying-jumping-giants/Interestingly, on that sighting too, KC and Arial were together.
I know that this is not applicable to you as you are always outside 100m when in the presence of whales, but I have had some hairy moments when working around KC. Thought it might be worthwhile to let you know this.

Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

We also (see Orca and Humpback reports) spotted what could very well have been upwards of 600+ Pacific Whitesided Dolphins in a 5 mile stretch of Bute Inlet.Amazing day!
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures

May 12
At least two groups of transients were sighted moving north, northwest through Porlier Pass (north end of Galiano Island) about 2:30 pm. We caught up with T87, possibly T90, and one other female with a calf (appeared to be at least 2 years old). Further off the Valdez Island shoreline was T102 with at least 5 others, including two younger juveniles. It was frustrating to not be able to ID the younger animals and females! They continued to make their way north up the Strait of Georgia, taking steady long dives and surfacing in a scattered formation. There was some predation going on, because when we arrived on scene the gulls were hovering around and picking yummy bits of flesh off the surface. Two roaming gangs of transients out and about today, each at the polar opposite ends of the islands! They were covering all their bases it seems!

Tasli Shaw, Steveston Seabreeze Adventures
May 10

Watched 3 orcas heading north along the west shorelines of DeCourcy and Mudge Islands (about ten miles south of Nanaimo). Looked like 2 adults and a calf. Dorsal fins appeared small and curved. One adult had a gray saddle behind it’s fin. They appeared to be feeding off Mudge Island, then started to head south, passing just to the east of Round Island.

Barb Wallace

May 10

1442 – Two orcas sighted northbound off Jack Pt (1 mile east of Nanaimo) and reported to whale hotline.

Capt. Fred Wicks, M.V.Quinsam

May 9

John Ford relayed a report of about 8 Bigg’s killer whales near Nanaimo around 3 pm. Graeme Ellis got out to document them as they were feasting on something, but seas were too heavy to tell what it was.

May 11
We got really lucky just as we reached Turn Point, a humpback whale was spotted north of East Point! It was decision time; continue our course, or extend our trip and go for it. We decided to go for it and headed further north. And was it worth it! The humpback whale blew magnificently in the distance. We watched as it surfaced a few times before flashing its fluke in a fluke up dive.
Kristen, Naturalist, San Juan Safaris

May 10

2 Humpback Whales encountered a couple of miles south west of Race Rocks that were surfing in 3-4′ waves south of Race Rocks! This was my first Humpback Whale encounter of the 2012 season:)
Andrew Lees. Marine Naturalist, Five Star Whale Watching 

 

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