Resident Orca Take Center Stage – Other Sightings Too

Northern Resident Orca are taking center stage with their appearances. And rumour has it that there are more of them coming into the Broughton / Johnstone Strait area. The Transient Orca – Bigg’s Killer Whales are doing a good job of keeping a low profile, which they do when the Residents are around. I have seen them pass one another going in opposite directions in Johnstone Strait, but both groups hug the opposite shore as they do. They do not mingle and tend to avoid one another. The Residents usually would have the upper hand since they regularly travel in greater numbers and are tighter knit family pods. They frequently touch one another as they travel. There are still plenty of Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, some Minke Whales and Porpoise in the reports.

8:30 am Orca reported by Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel headed East towards Hall Point.

8:50 am 6 Orca by Donagal Headforaging around some of the fishing boats.

11:50 am Only found the A36’s in Nodales Channel. At 11:35 am they turned to the East at Howe Island back into Nodales with the flood.

Around 4 pm NRKW’s at the East end of Robson Bight. Had been reported to:

4:45 pm A pod of Orca was spotted off Pine Island.

6 pm Orca that had gone into the Bight were exiting and heading West.

5:30 pm Reportedly a "bunch" of Orca are inbound towards Blackfish Sound along the QC Strait side of Malcolm Island by Bear Point.

6 pm The last report I have of the A36s (that’s the only ones we saw today) was westing at Ripple Point.

6:50 pm Orca A30’s plus Westbound by Kaikash Creek, just across from Cracroft Point.

9 am Orca including a calf just off Boat Bay heading West. A36’s and A11’s spread out from the Bight to Cracroft Point working back and forth foraging.

10:13 am Orca now slowly Westing from the Bight to Cracroft Point. By 10:30 am they had turned again.

3 pm Some Orca were heading East by Naka Creek. Another report said Eve River,

5:30 pm Orca update: We left residents @ eve river easting below the Bight.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

6:24 pm Orca heading past Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River. Not sure how many, I’m on the ferry. Only saw a couple – big dives, might be more.

7:30 pm 4 small dorsal fins at Brown’s Bay heading West – Scotty with them.

7:30 pm Browns Bay Small group of Orca (possibly 3-4) Too far to make out even the saddle. They were down for a long dive.

7:42 pm 4 small fin Transients through Seymour Narrows right now on the 10 knot ebb. No ID’s.

8 pm Orca update: 4x transients browns bay heading north

6:20 pm 2 Humpbacks between Bold Head and Donagal Head Blackfish Sound.

9 am 2 Humpback Whales southbound by Kelsey Bay.

9 am Humpback by Double Bay – Hanson Island

2:50 pm Humpback Mom and Calf by St. Vincent Bight, close to Kelsey Bay heading SE.

6 pm Minke Whalein front of Double Bay, Hanson Island

9 am Minke Whale by Bold Head, Blackfish Sound.

8:45 am Large group of PWS Dolphins in Deepwater Bay, Campbell River area.

4 pm We had about 100 Dolphins milling back n forth by Jimmy Judd Island.

10:14 am 100 + PWS Dolphins feeding in Kanish Bay, across from Campbell River. Then Southbound through Seymour Narrows.

11:30 am Another bunch of 150 + at Johns Point, Nodales Channel.

No time given: Also about 50 PWS Dolphins at Horn Bay, Okisollo Channel.

No time given: There were 6-8 Harbour Porpoise at Venture Point in Okisollo Channel.

6:50 pm Some Dall’s Porpoise just outside Robson Bight.