Orca Up and Down, Humpbacks, and Other Cetaceans

Orca in and all over the place then off they go again. For the Resident Orca, the smaller numbers of fish appears to be causing their long treks. The Transient (Bigg’s) Orca are following what’s following fish. Pacific White Sided Dolphins have had the run put on them a number of times. Humpback Whale numbers are staying around the same at the top of Johnstone Strait, but seem to be increasing down closer to Campbell River. Dall’s Porpoise are here and there, while Harbour Porpoise are seldom noticed until there’s a lack of other Cetaceans.

8 am A23/25/30’s and the I15’sare the Residents in the Bight trying to avoid being harassed by PWS Dolphins. By 9:30 am Some of the A’s and I’s headed West by the Sophia Islands and along the Hanson and Vancouver Island shores. The headed up Weynton Pass around 1:30 pm and spent some time foraging around the Plumpers while a few headed to the East.

9:20 am Orca Eastbound at Camp Point. Some PWS Dolphins met them and were all over them – no ID’s yet.

2:25 pm They are at Rock Point now still Easting. Nick figures A25’s.

11:52 am The A25’s are now at Bear Point heading East….not Transients as initially thought!

1:04 pm A25’s at Ripple PointEasting with 6 to 7 PWS Dolphins harassing them.

4 pm Orca Easting in Nodales now – probably since the Dolphins headed West.

1:15 pm Some of the Residentswere spotted by Scarlett Point Lightstation. No Direction, but it’s thought it was the A30’s.

9 am Resident Orca Westing by Kaikash Creek just out of the Bight. They were very spread out and were foraging back and forth a while up by Cracroft Point when a sea otter popped up. There’s been the odd sighting along the coast this year – no photo this time, sorry.

Around noon, the the Residents consisting of A23/25/30’s and the I15’s all worked their way up Blackfish Sound into Queen Charlotte Strait foraging along the way with at least one halibut munched on even while being harassed by a couple of PWS Dolphins. Photo above.

By 3:15 pm The Orca had sped up to 12-15 knots headed NW towards Polkinghorne Island and Wells Pass. Then they went ??

8:30 am Report from Larry on the Discovery Skiff that around 4 or 5 am some Orca passed their kayak camp on the Sophia Islands heading West and another report that some Orca were heard, not seen due to fog, just East of Telegraph Cove.

8:45 am Some Orca, whose numbers suggested the I15’s were spread out by Port McNeill. Once Bill on the Naiad got on scene, it was confirmed that it was the I15’s who were headed West.

By 11 am the 17 Orca had passed Pultney Point Lightstation and decided to turn back for a bit of a rub on the beach and socialize. There were spyhops, tail slaps and just some general play as they very slowly worked their way back to the East.

1:40 pm The I15’s went right into the Nimpkish estuary foraging for that elusive salmon.

3:21 pm I15’s still Easting with the lead 3 angling towards the Stephenson Islets while the rest were still on the Vancouver Island side by Pearse Pass. I left them with the lead headed to the Hanson Island shore and the rest over by Telegraph Cove still headed East.

10:30 am Orca just East of Eve River heading East – turned out to be the A30’s and A23’s. The A30’s and A23’s had gone East foraging, then turned East around noon.

3:21 pm The A’s have just entered the the East end of the Reserve. They didn’t stay long; 4:25 pm they were at the Sophia Islands.

5:20 pm the I15’s just passed Kaikash Creek Eastbound.

12:18 pm A group of Residentsare Westing by Stimpsons Reef.

1:56 pm I’m on Cracroft Island side now by Escape Reef.

2:16 pm Left the A30’s Westing by Forward Bay.

12:32 pm A23’s and A25’s Westing at Stimpson’s Reef.

6:30 pm A23’s were by Cracroft Point when 4 Transient Orca came around the corner from Baronett Passage. The A23’s met them head to head, just over 100 feet apart, then submerged – guess they parted at that point. In the excitement and chance to hear any vocal exchange they might have, Lukwa dropped the hydrophone without securing it first – Oops! The Transients headed East and were again close to some of the Resident Orca that were still in the Bight.

8 pm A23/25/30’s and I15’s all in the Bight.

11:17 am 4 Transients Chatham Point Southbound. 2 Females 2 juveniles all clean fins.

12:30 pm Left the Orca Southbound at Deepwater Bay, Campbell River.

3:27 pm Transients at Duncan Baynow, north of Campbell River. I’m hoping to find them on the way home.

5:10 pm I left the Orca Southboundby red can buoy off Cape Mudge. They swam right past 4 Harbour Porpoise and a seal!

2 pm A small group of Transientswere seen Inbound just above Port Hardy. No further information available.

6:54 am 10 to 12 Transient OrcaNorthbound by Cape Mudge Light.

9:30 am T101/102 gangs plus others Northbound in front of Campbell River.

11:02 am T90’s T100’s and T101/102’sturned and bucking the ebb tide Southbound at Brown’s Bay.

9:30 am A report came in that some Transients were on a Sea Lion by Donagal Head. These whales were very elusive and quiet. Usually, they become quite vocal once on a kill. They did, however, abandon the kill to die a slow death. These were two females and two juveniles, so the assumption is that it was training excercise for the juveniles. They did pass by numerous Dall’s Porpoise and Harbour Seals. Their being quiet was probably due to hearing all the Resident Orca chatter headed in their direction, and their head to head on Aug. 20^th.

The Transients stealthily left the area and were spotted around 12:45 pm heading by Pearse Islands,but again gave the slip only to pop up again by Telegraph Coveworking their way to the East, down Johnstone Strait.

3:54 pm These Transients were still Eastbound by Kaikash Creek and headed into the Bight. No idea if they had chased any of the PWS Dolphins in the Strait.

They were Identified as the T046’s.

8:23 am 5 or 6 Orca in front of We Wai Kai Village (Cape Mudge) now. No direction. From a sport fisherman.

8:52 am They’re heading North past our marina (Campbell River) now. Ebb Tide.

2:55 pm 12 Orca Southbound Race Passage including T102’s and T100’s.

10:30 am Orca coming out of Sunderland Channel.

Two sighting today near Browns Baybut the same group. There were so far away I could not make anything out except the dorsal and their blows. There was one large male and two younger calves. But this group was a bit larger group with maybe 6 or so. But there were the two calfs, and probably a couple males, one very large boy ;~)), and assorted others probably females. The first group was around 10:15. Then I heard on the radio that they had doubled back from Seymour Narrows. They are closer to Plumper Bay for the second sighting, Got to see one breach. 11:15 or so. One last report…the whales never left but meandered up toward the Bay and hung out. (about 10-12) they have been in the Bay area for over an hour…The guys in the Whale boats were saying they exhibited sleepy kind of behavior…just hanging out..not hunting. He indicated they were T100’s and I am sure he will give you a good report. Their behavior really gave some great photo ops…Looking forward to what he sends you.

6:30 pm The Resident Orca, A23’s were by Cracroft Point when 4 Transient Orca came around the corner from Baronett Passage. The A23’s met them head to head, just over 100 feet apart, then submerged – guess they parted at that point. In the excitement and chance to hear any vocal exchange they might have, Lukwa dropped the hydrophone without securing it first – Oops! The Transients headed East and were again close to some of the Resident Orca that were still in the Bight.

7 pm T02’s Easting in Cordero Channel.

August 23:

Humpback Report for the day is incomplete, so no total for the day. But at 8 am there were at least 5 Humpbacks between Bold Head and the Whitecliffe Islets and another couple that were spotted by Weynton Pass.

Throughout the day, the Humpbacks were in their ‘usual’ spots where feed tends to accumulate. Total count for the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 10 including ‘Humpless’ whose dorsal was virtually taken off due to probable prop damage.

7:47 am 2 Humpback Whales just above Deepwater Bay, Campbell River.

Throughout the day: Total count for the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 8 – 10 including ‘Freckles’ down by the Sophias.

7:40 am 2 Humpbacks Southbound off Point 45 (sorry, I don’t know where that is)

8:50 am 2 Humpback Whales at Chatham Point Northbound.

8:54 am Humpbacks everywhere this morning! 2 Humpbacks, possibly Mom and calf, just South of the hump (fishing spot by Cape Mudge) from Rowdy.

Throughout the day: Total count for the day at the top of Johnstone Strait was 6 – 8 including ‘Chunky’ and her calf in Weynton Pass.

9 am 200 to 300 PWS Dolphins were foraging and harassing the Orca around the Robson Bight. A few followed, or led as they like to bow ride the Orca’s noses, some of the A’s and I’s over to the Sophias.

The rest must have gone up the Vancouver Island shore since they seemed to pop up around Blinkhorn then out at the top of Weynton Pass by the Plumper Isands.

2:25 pm Apart from the Dolphinsthat met up with the Orca, there’s 100 or so PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel.

1:04 pm A25’s at Ripple Point Easting with 6 to 7 PWS Dolphinsharassing them.

3 pm 100 PWS Dolphins heading West in Nodales.

8 am Large group, around 300 PWS Dolphins were Eastbound by Blinkhorn. Soon after, they were Westbound and spent most of the day foraging in and around Weynton Pass to Beaver Cove. The last report, still from that area was around 3 pm still just off Blinkhorn.

2:30 pm 40 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm milling.

8:30 am Around 100 PWS Dolphins were in front of Telegraph Cove foraging.

9 am 500 – 600 PWS Dolphinswere spread right across Johnstone Strait in front of Boat Bay, across from Robson Bight.

3 pm The Transients, T46’s were headed down the Strait, so must have passed by, or chased the approx. 400 PWS Dolphins who were now just below Blinkhorn.

3:15 pm Another, perhaps splintered off, group of around 150 PWS Dolphins were Eastbound by Escape Reef just above Port Harvey.

6:30 pm A few PWS Dolphins were in Robson Bight at the same time as the Transient Orca.

8:45 am 100-ish PWS Dolphins heading into Frederick Arm.

3 pm 300 PWS Dolphins by Yorke Island.

Dall’s Porpoise have popped up in various places in groups ranging from 4 – 20, most commonly in Weynton Passage, and top and bottom of Blackfish Sound. They occasionally bow ride for a while then continue their foraging, or disappear when they realize the Transient Orca are around.

3:30 pm One little Harbour Porpoisecame into Growler Cove foraging for a short time.

5 pm 4 Harbour Porpoise at Cape Mudge. The Transients swam right past them.

Late Report: Also, forgot to tell you, we saw 3 Harbour Porpoises just East of Naka, heading East at about 2pm. We were out on the kayaks when they appeared, which was nice 🙂