Sightings: Transients, Dolphins and Porpoise

Transient Orca, Bigg’s Killer Whales in abundance. They decided to group up for a bit of socializing then split up again. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins also seem to have re-grouped, possibly safety in numbers reasoning; as did some Harbour Porpoise. A few Dall’s Porpoise sightings round out this report. Word has it that the A36 pod of Northern Resident Orca have finally made an appearance in the upper Johnstone Strait.

8:42 am First sighting of around 6 Transient Orca by Sentry Shoal Northbound towards Mitlenatch Island. Didn’t take long and there were a number of them spread out.

11 am The Orca are almost to Quathiaski Cove. There are two groups plus another bunch by the red can buoy off Cape Mudge. Total of 18 to 20 Orca.

1 pm About 12 Orca are heading NW through Seymour Narrows.

3 pm Orca between Maude Island light and Race Point in the Narrows and there are still some by Salmon Point, south of Campbell River.

5:30 pm We left around 10 Transient Orca Northbound at Race Point.

7:30 pm Sighted Transient Orcagroup that has two infants. There were about 5 including one very large male, a female with the little guys and several othervarious. I say transients because of previous sightings on two babes. It was at 7:30 Browns Bay, Campbell River heading North up the inside passage.
Jacquie-Summer Resident Browns Bay

11:34 am Orca! 9+ Orcareally spread out in a couple of groups in Sutil Channelbetween Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island and Whaletown, Cortez Island.

2:20 pm Orca angling towards Viner Point, Read Island. Not sure if they’ll decide to go Hoskyns Channel or Whale Passage.

3:25 pm Transient Orca hugged the Read Island shore and headed into Evans Bay.

4:15 pm AJ left the Orca rounding Viner Point looked like they were heading for Heriot Bay or Hoskyns Channel. Doing deep travelling dives.

Orca spotted by Copeland Islands, no time, number or direction.

Mother and calf Orca spotted off Lund by a buddy yesterday (15^th).

4:55 pm Orcas travelling north east spotted by Kinghorn Island moving towards Station Island and in the direction of Refuge Cove. 4 – 5 individuals, 1 large bull, 2 young ones, 1 other large one (not as big as the bull – maybe mother). Apparently they were also in front of Lund earlier that day – I did not see them as i was coming back w/ our zodiac from Toba inlet when we spotted them. 🙂

4 pm 200-300 PWS Dolphins off of Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.

11 am 50-60 PWS Dolphins by Horn Point in Dent Rapids. At the same time, there were another 12 PWS Dolphins a little farther along by Denham Island.

10:30 am 50-60 PWS Dolphins in Bute Inlet by Clipper Point. They’re heading towards Fawn Bluff.

12 pm Around 20 PWS Dolphins by Horn Point to Nodales Channel.

4:40 pm 50-60 PWS Dolphins 2 1/2 mi SW of Clipper Point, Bute Inlet. There were also a few in Arran Rapids.

5:30 pm We had a handful of PWS Dolphins near Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River.

July 16:

9:30 pm 6+ Pacific White Sided Dolphins came as far down Bute Inlet as Moh Creek had a few leaps as they foraged, then turned to rejoin the rest farther up the inlet. Managed a few foraging vocals.

8:05 pm 1 or 2 Harbour Porpoises near Cape Mudge Lighthouse.

9:54 am 10-12 Harbour Porpoiseforaging at the entrance to Bute Inlet by Johnstone Bluffs. There was one very small calf who actually did a little breach beside Mom. So cute!

12:10 pm Couple of Dall’s Porpoise by Sheer Point – Whiterock Pass area.

10 am Couple of Dall’s Porpoise by Denham Island, Dent Rapids area.

10:30 am 2 Harbour Porpoise in Calm Channel.

6 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise foraging mid channel near Cape Mudge Lighthouse.