Pacific White Sided Dolphin Mom and Calf Photo & Whale Sightings

Sightings reports of Northern Resident Killer Whales, Transient Orca, (Bigg’s Killer Whale) sightings, Humpback and Minke Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, including a photo of a Mom and Calf leaping together, and Dall’s Porpoise. I have summarized the radio reports received throughout the day or this blog would be miles long, but the individual reports are as submitted. During the summer ‘season’ for whale watching, there are so many boats passing information that it’s difficult sometime to keep track of who said what unless they specifically submit a report.

8:40 am Orca Westing from bottom of Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

9 am 4 Orca at Swaine Point Light and 1 Orca, possibly more in the Bight.

Till after 7 pm The A36’s and A11’s continued to Blackney Pass, not very far at all, and stopped to forage. They continued West along the Hanson Island shore as far as Weynton Pass to a spot that a few years back was dubbed "Turn Point" since that’s where the whales usually made their turn back East. They did the expected, and turned. Spread right across Johnstone Strait they worked their way back towards Cracroft Point and the Sophia Islands at Blackney Pass. They’ve stopped to socialize and continue to fish. Apparently they are being quite vocal still.

8:20 pm Orca still by the Sophia Islands with A75’s calf rolling around on the surface, playing.

9:15 am Report that the 2 A36 brothers had been spotted just out from Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.

By 11:30 am It was confirmed that the A11’s were together with the A36’s, in the fog, and had made their way East into Blackfish Sound continuing past Flower Island towards Cracroft Point. They would slow to forage and vocalize as they worked their way towards Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

5:45 pm A36’s and A11’s still in the Bight having a good rub on the beaches.

7 pm The Orca came out of the Bight and started West for a bit, but turned back towards Cracroft Point and the Bight.

7:40 pm They turned again – must be some good food!

10 am till 1 pm Here are 3 pics (one posted tonight – SM) from today’s trip with the A-36’s, A-11’s and Humpbacks in Blackfish sound And Blackney Pass today! Was a chilly ride up but flat as a pond both ways! Nice to see the N/W Winds gone! We arrived on scene with the 36’s and 11’s in a picture perfect resting line pattern slowly rolling through the fog in Blackfish Sound. Followed them East as they headed for Blackney Pass and some foraging with the 3 humpbacks that were there as well! Some vocals and foraging then grouped up with A-11 in the lead they headed east for the Bight. When we left to head for the barn, they were abeam the Cliff! Great day, Cheers!

Mark and I were sitting on the deck tonight and noticed 3 Orca at 8:10 pm just in front of the Westview wharf. They proceeded to slowly follow a tide line towards Grief Point. 2 females and a male in the pod. A couple of tail slaps and some surface resting were seen. They were doing shallow dives and were on the surface a lot. Got some great looks with the spotting scope when they were right in front of the house. My brother Mark from California thinks this is normal seeing Orca 2 times in 3 days in Powell River. He’s the only one of our visitors that ever has. Take care up there!

I was lucky enough to encounter another pod of orca on July 26th at approximately 5pm just off the southeastern tip of Harwood Island, Powell River. There were what looked to be about six (four together and another two off a ways) traveling south. I got a couple of shots, but so far have been unable to identify any of them. There was a large male that I thought was T020, but my photos are pretty far off and aren’t quite at the proper angle to be sure. Happy Orca Hunting,
Jessica Dohm

9 am 4 Humpback Whales by Donagal Head, Blackfish Sound, 2 Humpbacks by Lizard Point, Malcolm Island, 1 Humpback by the Blow Hole, Plumper Islands and 1 Humpback by Bold Head.

10:45 am 2 Humpback Whales by Baronett Pass, just above Cracroft Point, then a bit later, 4 Humpback Whales by Cracroft Point including a Mom and Calf. One of the Humpbacks was identified as ‘Conger’.

7:20 pm Humpback is breaching by the Sophia Islands.

9 am Humpback Whale between Telegraph Cove and Weynton Island.

9:30 am 2 Humpback Whales in Beaver Cove, 2 at Bold Head, 1, maybe 2 at Blackney Pass and 2 by Flower Island!

See also Nick’s NRKW report for Humpback info. 3 Humpbacks at Blackney Pass foraging close by Orca.

2:25 pm The location was Lewis channel between Cortez Island and West Redonda Island. We were averaging about 4 knots Northbound, so 4 nautical miles South of Cortez Northern tip in Lewis Channel would put your pin pretty close. We never did see the tail. There would be a blow, with no body apparent – then the dorsal fin for about three seconds – then gone. Repeated several times about 1 minute intervals from the picture times. I’ve been pouring over dorsal fin photo’s and profiles for days, and I just wasn’t getting anywhere that I had confidence in. You have been very helpful and I can’t adequately express our gratitude.

My Brother and I were recently on a sailing trip around Cortez Island -and we were blessed with a sighting of a whale – clearly not one of the oft seen orcas. I’m hoping you can shed some light. We would really like to know what we’ve seen. I’m attaching the pictures unedited in the hope you can zoom in and offer some guidance. I don’t know if it helps, but we both guessed 10 to 12 feet from blow to dorsal fin, though there is a time lapse that might affect that judgement.

Thanks for any help you can offer – and thanks for your support of cetaceans.

10 am (approximately) Couple of Minke Whales on the East side of Cormorant Island.

11 am Minke Whale by BlinkhornLight.

11:45 am Minke by Stephenson Islets(possibly the same one) into Weynton Pass.

2 pm 100 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm, just above Desolation Sound. Just leaving them now.

12 pm PWS Dolphins (no numbers or direction given) by Hickey Point, Kelsey Bay area and a few in Robson Bight.

4:33 pm 60 + PWS Dolphinsswimming around Denham Bay, Dent Rapids for the past couple of hours.

5:31 pm 75 PWS Dolphins at Hall Point, Nodales Channel.

8:45 pm 5-6 Dall’s Porpoiseforaging in the tide rips between Pearse Islands and the Stephenson Islets.