Many Cetacean Sightings

Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whales or Orca, Humpback Whales, Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise. What’s missing? Well, Resident Orca, Grey Whales, Minke Whales, and a few other cetaceans that we don’t normally see in our immediate area. So, we’re seeing our usual species of Cetaceans. It’s nice to get reports of the smaller Harbour and Dall’s Porpoise again. Glad to see people are noticing!

Early morning report from a fishing friend: Orca Northbound by Whiskey Point, Campbell River area.

9:20 am 3 Orca at Copper Bluffsnow Southbound and moving fast. Looks like the same group as yesterday. Heading straight towards the humpbacks!

Around 8:30 am One lone female Orcafin spotted in the distance heading North between Plunger and Quadra Island. (unconfirmed)

12:50 pm One big bull Orcaspotted by ‘the hump’ (by red can buoy) off Cape Mudge.

12:54 pm Orcas found off the reef by Cape Mudge heading towards the Lighthouse. They turned and headed South by Shelter Point. Left them close to Oyster River – just got too rough and uncomfortable.

1:55 pm Definitely 3 Orca 1 Male 1 Female and 1 Calf – possibly T20 and T21. Down by Shelter Point the Orca took off in a hurry. They were running faster than 12 knots – tough to keep up with. Almost to Oyster River not far above the Comox ferry terminal. 3 to 4 foot seas – turned back.

4:15 pm Six Orca in two groups, 2 Females and a calf in one and 1 Male with 2 Females in the other just off Coho Point, the NW tip of Texada Island. They were lazily milling about and resting. We saw one little spy hop from the Comox ferry on our way back to Powell River. They had their noses pointed towards Powell River. (weather made it difficult to see even as far as the Texada shoreline so no idea where they got to – SM)

I thought I had best email you with this very late, late update. (received June 28^th) June 26 at 5 pm there were 6 orcas cruising by Donkersley beach, (Powell River South) 1 large male, 1 juvenille male, 3 females and 1 small one who was having such fun breaching. Lots of tail slaps, rolls by the females. They were travelling north. It is rare to have them this close, but we assumed they did because there was the usual tug and 3 barges with hog fuel between them and Texada. The seals were definitely hugging the black point reef.

9 am 2 Humpbacks off Quathiaski Coveheading south slowly.

10:36 am Left the Humpbacks still Southbound by Cape Mudge in the huge waves and tide rips.

3 pm Two Humpback Whales by Brown’s Bay heading South.

4:15 pm Left the Humpbacks by Brown’s Bay Southbound.

10 pm I am walking the Tyee Spit and I can hear them (the Humpbacks) breathing close to shoreslowly going by. They’re really close to shore – I can smell them! (fish breath – SM)

11 am About 20 PWS Dolphins by Howe Island, just by Okisollo Channel then heading towards Nodales Channel.

1 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins in Bute Inlet and just at the entrance.

9:40 am 40 – 50 PWS Dolphins spread out all over the place leaping and cavorting between Raza Island just above Desolation Sound and Church House across from Hole in the Wall.

2:55 pm 15 + PWS Dolphins by Rendezvous Islands.

Afternoon 10 Dolphins by Denham Island.

June 28:

9am 3 Harbour Porpoises foraging in Discovery Passage near Simms Creek.

12 pm 6 Dall’s by McMullen Point.

2:51 pm Approx. 8 Dall’s Porpoise by Dent Rapids – fairly playful.

Afternoon 8 Dall’s Porpoise by Horn Point. And 4 Harbour Porpoise by Jimmy Judd Island.

6:30 pm 1 or 2 Harbour Porpoise travelling North Cape Mudge area by Vancouver Island side.