Northern Residents and lots of Other Sightings
Northern Resident Orca, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Dall’s Porpoise sightings from mostly the upper Johnstone Strait area with Pacific White Sided Dolphins and a late report of Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whales in the Sunshine Coast – upper Georgia Strait area.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
NRKW A75 with Her New Calf
August 2, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
August 3:
Throughout the day: the A30’shave been from the top of Blackfish Sound down Johnstone Strait to just East of The Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, back up the Strait as far as Beaver Cove, by Telegraph Cove and then back down towards the Bight.
August 2:
Throughout the day: the A30’swere again, spotted at the top of Blackfish Sound in the morning and worked their way down the Sound towards the Bight. Later in the day, they had ventured up Johnstone Strait to Beaver Cove and turned back towards the East at 7:30 pm
August 1:
Throughout the day: the R4’s, A11’s, I15’s and A30’s were spread out all over Blackfish Soundthen Johnstone Strait foraging, went back towards the Bight, when around 1 pm the R4’s and I15’s popped up in Weynton Passwhile the rest were close to the Bight. These Resident Whales also turned back to the bight till 6 pm when the R4’s, on their own were spotted by the Stephenson Islets at the bottom of Weynton Pass. They continued West in Johnstone Strait and I left them around 7:30 pm still headed West past Alert Bay. Overnight: The I15’s and A11’s possibly joined the R4’s to head out West into Queen Charlotte Strait.
The R’s are not regularly seen in the area so it was a treat – I also managed to get some great vocal recordings. Their vocals are quite a bit different than the A Clan or G Clan calls. I’m working on getting a few short audio clips up – SM
NRKW’s the R4’s
August 1, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Transient Orca – Bigg’s Killer Whales
July 30:
Second hand report of Transient Orca passing Cortez and up into Surge Narrows.
Humpback Whales
August 3:
Throughout the day: The total count today was only 5 Humpback Whales that I heard about. One of them was Breaching at Cracroft Point as the A30’s headed closer to Blackney Pass.
August 2:
9 am Humpbacks: 1 at Whitebeach Pass, Mom and Calf at Bold Head, 1 at Parsons Bay.
9:30 am Humpbacks: 2 at Bold Head, 2 at Flower Island, 1 in Weynton Pass.
10:30 am 4 Humpbacks at Wells Pass.
4 pm – 7:20 pm Humpback lunge feeding between the Stephenson Islets and just off Pearse Islands. It left the area in Johnstone Strait heading towards Weynton Island.
Total number unique animals during the day: 9 Humpback Whales
August 1:
Throughout the day: 1 Humpback Weynton Island, 1 by Plumper Islands and 1 putting on a huge showwith enormous tail lobs, breaches and pectoral slaps after lunge feeding in Blackney Pass while the NRKW’s were also there.
August 1:
11:46 am 2 Humpback Whales – ‘Chunky’ and her calf (photos in yesterday’s post) at Camp Point close to Kelsey Bay headed West against the current.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback Whale (Salt Wash at anchor behind)
August 2, 2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Minke Whales
August 3:
12:30 pm Minke at top of Pearse Passheaded towards birds picking off feed. Too long dives for any photos.
August 1:
4:42 pm Minke anglingfrom Pearse Islands toward Weynton Pass.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
August 3:
3:45 pm 100+ Leaping PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay by Dent Rapids.
Nick Templeman, Eagle Eye Adventures
Dall’s Porpoise
August 3:
1 pm Dall’s bow riding by Telegraph Cove and Stephenson Islets – no numbers.
August 2:
7 pm 2 Dall’s Porpoise between Stephenson and Pearse Islands.
August 1:
No time recorded 2 Dall’s Porpoise foraging by Pearse Islands.
