NRKW’s, Transient Killer Whales Plus

Orca everywhere! Northern Residents finally made an official appearance, with a new calf, in Johnstone Strait, Transients have been at Savary Island, down below Powell River and some, that are more frequently seen in Alaska made their way right through, chasing Pacific White Sided Dolphins, from their first ID point above Campbell River continuing West above Alert Bay. Humpback Whales have been spotted around the top of Johnstone Strait down to Helmcken Island a bit above Campbell River. Minke Whales and Dall’s Porpoise round out the sightings reports.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

7:30 am The A30’s just passed Cracroft Point, Johnstone Strait heading East in the fog.

10 am the A30’s Resident Orcaeasting by Naka Creek while the Transient Orca (T077 and T075B’s) are between Stubbs and Donagal Head top of Blackfish

We were fortunate to have a regular contributor, Tara Bladon, from Campbell River, and friends camping at Naka Creek giving some great fogbound Orca updates:

9:05 am Saw 2 Orca heading West about 10 minutes ago. They were closer to the other (Cracroft Island) shoreline. Looked like 2 but maybe 3.

9:30 am I can still hear the blows off in the distance! The water is like glass – fog here too, beautiful.

9:45 am 6 Orca here now…make that 10 or so! Heading East.

10:04 am 2 males; 2 groups one is 7 or 8 the other is 5 with no male; all heading East. Pretty close to shore – what a treat for us!!!

What a treat to be there for one night and to see the Orcas!

2:13 pm A30’s just South of Eve River (so called since it’s close to Adam River – SM)

5:30 pm Resident Orca in St. Vincent Bight.

9:14 am 2 Orcas near Bear Bight– no direction. Sounds like the A36 brothers.

10:23 am A36’s Easting by Ripple Point.

11:46 am Looks like the A36’sare still Eastbound by Nodales Channel.

2:50 pm A30’s in Blackfish SoundEastbound by Bold Head. Total of 11 Orca.

July 24:

5 pm A30’s foraging by Stubbs Island. A75 has a New Calf – she’s a pretty young Mom! They may be headed down Weynton Pass. (note: they did, but weren’t found till close to Cracroft Point down Johnstone Strait – SM)

6 pm A36’s were Westing at Davis Point Nodales Channel

7:02 pm A30’s just eastbound by Cracroft Point.

7:45 pm Now just off the Sophia Islets heading towards Boat Bay.

10 am the A30’s Resident Orca easting by Naka Creek while the 6 Transient Orca (T077 and T075B’s) are between Stubbs and Donagal Head top of Blackfish Sound

6 pm I spotted from Savary two male Orcas about 2 km E of Grant Reefs Bouy going roughly east at 6 pm today (Wednesday). I did not see them surface
many times before they did the disappearing act.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island

11:45 am Orca chasing PWS Dolphinswestbound off the SW end of Savary Island, just above Grant’s Reef angling towards Mitlenatch Island. Lots of huge chasing leaps and splashes!

1:24 pm Orca and Dolphins by the Tyee Pool in front of Campbell River

1:54 pm 6 Transients Northbound by Pulp Mill in Campbell River. Trying to get a PWS Dolphin right at the Argonaut wharf jumping 20 feet in the air he (tug Inlet Ranger) said. T’s went West by Chatham Identified as ones that frequent Alaskan waters, T077 and T075B gangs. They were moving quickly up Johnstone Strait. Don’t know what happened to the PWS Dolphins ahead of them….I’d guess they took Nodales Ch.

6:08 pm Just left the 6 Transient Orca Westbound by Chatham Point. They took something by Howe Island, not sure what, but were circling and sharing something. Lots of gulls picking up scraps.

7:40 pm 4 Orca Northbound by Armour Road, close to Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.

8:30 pm Orca were splashing around – looks like feeding. Now they’re headed Southwards.

what a lovely sight, one large male orca, two females and a very small calf from around 9 p.m. until it was too dark to see. they seemed to be feeding and at times the large orca would appear straight out of the water and then descend once again. they were about 1 to 2 km off albion pt (black point) south of powell river. so calm we could hear the blows. seemingly the seals knew they were there and hugged the shore. the 3 yr old grand daughter enjoyed the show even without binoculars and we were pleased that the 6 yr old, also visiting from alberta, was able to experience this awesome sight.

8:50 am PWS Dolphins at Horn Point, not sure of number or direction, if any.

2:30 pm 150 PWS Dolphins by McMullen Point heading North fast away from the Transients.

1pm The Dolphins were coming out of Nodales at that point. Re: A36’s poss turn

July 24:

Group(20)  of WSD in Browns Bay about 2:20pm.  

Jacquie-Summer Resident Brown’s Bay.

Folks here in the park said it was more like 50 WSD.  so between 25-50 is a better number.  I was in the marina and it is lower elevation and they were in the park and it is higher and thus a better view. 

Jacquie Nevinger, Campbell River

11:30 am 120 – 150 PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel, by Hall Point foraging.

5:10 pm couple of Humpback Whalesaround Weynton Pass and ?? (apologies, details never got noted – SM)

5:30 pm 2 Humpback Whalesheading East at Helmcken Island.

6:14 pm They had turned and we left them heading West at Earl’s Ledge

5:30 pm 2 2 Humpback Whales‘Stripe’ and another by Helmcken Island

9 am Humpback Whale by Stubbs Island

11 am Humpback Whale, think maybe it was ‘Arial’ was Northbound by Kanish Bay.

9 am Just out of Alert Bay, we spotted a Minke Whale.

5:15 pm 3 Minke Whales one in Pearse Pass the other two at the bottom of the Pass.

9 am Just coming out of Alert Bay, some Dall’s Porpoise were bowriding.