Busy Orca days!

More of the Northern Resident Orca came into the top of Johnstone Strait and some more ventured down into the channels around Campbell River. There has been a distinct lack of whales and dolphins in and around Powell River and Savary Island areas with finally a couple of Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whales showing up. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been making their way out of the lower channels and working their way up the coast, while a few Humpback Whales have worked their way down. Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise round out the sightings.

August 29:

8:30 am Orca reported by fishermen at Davis Point, Nodales Channel inbound towards Frederick Arm.

August 29:

8:30 am At least 12 Resident Orca Northbound from Cinq islands in Discovery Passage. A few minutes later there were 2 or 3 more heading out of Nodales towards Howe Island. Unsure if they’re the ones that were at Davis Point. There was a bit of a split as they foraged spread across the strait over to Chatham Point Lightstation and continued West around to Rock Bay by around 9 am. There were at least 16 Resident Orca spread out by Walkem Islands by 9:30 am

August 29:

9 am Report that some of the other Resident Orca headed out of the Robson Bight Reserve heading West in the fog.

August 29:

10 to 10:30 am The lead group consisting of the A23’s had rounded Ripple Point in lower Johnstone Strait with some of the others still foraging by Walkem Islands as well as some more reported still in Nodales Channel by Hall Point, which turned out to be the A36’s.

With such a huge spread, and the back and forth foraging, there were various numbers in the counts making it difficult to say who was where. But for sure, the A8’s, A23’s, A25’s and the two A36 boys for a definite total of 14 Orca throughout the day, with more possible, but unconfirmed. One report described the very unique split topped dorsal of I64 from the I11 Matriline. But this male was not spotted again, nor were any of the other I11’s. I do not know if the I11’s have even come into the inside waters, but this unique dorsal and the variations in number of Orca makes me wonder…. It is more likely that we had the A24’s, but again, unconfirmed.

By 11:42 am Nick, Eagle Eye Adventures was leaving one group at Bear Bight on the Vancouver Island side heading up, and I had picked up on the lead group, the A23’s who were with Sean, Tenacious 3 making their way up from Vansitaart Point to Ripple Shoal while being harassed by a couple of Dall’s Porpoise. They were bucking the tide and stalled, as they had yesterday, by Camp Point where they had a rub on the shore and foraged. As the current settled, they worked their way up Race Passage past Helmken Island when I spotted a very small Humpback and left this lead group around 3 pm.

August 29:

1:28 pm A36’s still at Hall Point.

August 29:

2 pm The A36 brothers spent the day in Nodales again. I last saw them swimming along the Sonora shore Westbound at Sonora Point.

August 29:

2:30 pm (approx) Some Orca were at foraging at Palmer Bay heading West slowly.

4 pm At least 6 Orca had made a turn and were now working their way East below Camp Point on the Vancouver Island shore.

August 29:

6:05 pm The A36’s had turned also and were now at Davis Point heading back into Nodales Channel.

August 28:

8 am Orca headed into Nodales Channel with another 16 Orca by Chatham Point from a fisherman. They spread out all the way from Thurston Bay Marine Park with some heading into Frederick Arm by 11 am. A few PWS Dolphins were harassing some of the Orca which were all of the A5 Pod.

12 pm With some of the whales still in Frederick Arm, the rest worked their way down Nodales, still being pestered by some Dolphins and started to head West. They were foraging and taking their time till they got to Turn Island where they were clocked at 10 to 12 knots, but slowed again soon after.

5 pm I picked up the A8’s and A23’s at Camp Point continuing up Race Pass after a brief stall by Camp Point to forage and have a bit of a rub on the beaches. A short time after, I got a radio call from Sean, Teancious 3 that the A30’s were just on the West side of Kelsey Bay. Sounded like there was going to be an Orca party. There were lots of vocalizations. The A30’s appeared to turn back to West just as the others were arriving at the East side of Kelsey Bay where they again stalled for a nap.

7:30 pm As I headed back to my anchorage, I saw the last of the A5’s who had taken the Current Pass side of Helmken instead of Race Pass. These whales all grouped up around Earl’s Ledge and headed East again down Race Pass.

I could hear their vocalizations till around 10 pm.

August 28:

11:30 am A30’s were at Swaine Point being harassed by a few PWS Dolphins and heading East.

3:50 pm The A30’s were at Cedarstead Creek, past Naka, still headed East towards Kelsey Bay. (see above for their turn)

August 27:

9:10 am "Fair number of Orca" by Donagal Head spread out to Bold Head and Stubbs Island. There were between 40-50 Orca.

9:30 am Residents A30’s, plus so many more entering Johnstone Strait, some via Weynton Pass, and some by Blackney Pass.

11 am A30’s and I15’s were by the Sophia Islands and headed to the Bight – very vocal.

2:40 pm Some Orca were continuing East passing Naka Creek.

August 27:

6 pm Tenacious 3 was leaving the Orca Easting against the ebb by Windy Point. They were spread out and doing long dives. It was the A8’s, A23’s and A25’s.

August 27:

7 – 8 pm 2 Transient Orca were slowly heading West doing long dives and hunting on the South-West side of Savary Island. A seal was as high as possible on a rock and looked worried.

August 29:

3 pm (approx) 1 very small looking Humpback Whale was headed East in Race Passage while the Resident Orca headed West.

August 29:

4 pm Humpback Whale in Baker Pass, between Hernando and Cortez Islands.

August 27:

10:30 am 2 Humpback Whales were feeding by Cracroft Point.

August 27, 28 and 29:

Lots of Humpback activity still in the upper Johnstone Strait.

August 29:

No PWS Dolphins were reported!

August 28:

8:30 am 20 – 30 PWS Dolphins at Denham Island / Hall Point area at the top of Nodales Channel. Looks like a nursery pod.

Few were harassing the Orca – see above reports.

August 28:

Friends on their way south near Burke Channel yesterday took videos of the 100 or so PWS Dolphins that followed their boat for about an hour.

August 27:

9:30 am 150 PWS Dolphins around Yorke Island – zig zagging and sort of heading South. They were still there on my second pass through at Noon.

9:50 am 40 – 50 PWS Dolphins by the Broken Islands, Port Harvey.

10 am 20 – 25 PWS Dolphins by Ripple Point

3:30 pm 12+ PWS Dolphins by Denham Island heading South.

5:40 till 6 pm 80+ PWS Dolphins off Earl’s Ledge foraging towards Kelsey Bay with a bit of play thrown in. Lots of very young calves.

August 29:

12:20 pm Couple of Dall’s Porpoise bow riding and harassing the Orca close to Tyee Point, Ripple Shoal.

August 29:

4 Dall’s Porpoise foraging at Bear Point.

August 27:

8:30 am 4 Harbour Porpoise just as we left the harbour. Campbell River.

August 27:

No time given: Pretty quiet down here. 6 or so Dall’s Porpoise playing in Dent Rapids.