Cetacean Sightings from Powell River to Upper Johnstone Strait
Residents, Transients, Humpbacks and Dolphin Sightings back up in numbers. Sightings reports from Powell River to Kelsey Bay with the usual channels above Desolation Sound and Campbell River taking a steady billing of Whales and Dolphins. With the increase in larger Cetacean sightings, the small Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise sightings reports are few, but they are still out there.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Orca Choreographed Ballet
2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Northern Resident Killer Whales
September 13:
9:45 am We had all the A’s at Eve River Westbound. (Continued under Transients)
Nick Templeman
September 13:
11 am A30’s, A25’s, and the A23’s were all Westbound slowly foraging by Adams River, across from Port Neville. A little farther up Johnstone Strait, the I15’s were Eastbound by Naka Creek. On the way back:
1 pm The A36 boys popped up by Loughborough Inlet and headed to Nodales Channel where I left them by Howe Island on my later run!
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 13:
4:30 pm We left the A36’s by Howe Island heading East into Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 12:
8:30 am Resident A36’s (2 brothers) are foraging in Nodales Channel by Davis Point.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 12:
9:27 am A36’s are now heading West by Harding Island, Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 12:
10:55 am 5 Orca Eastbound by Vansitaart Point.
11:45 am 5+ Orca, possibly the A8’s are Easting at Bear Bight. There’s a calf in the group.
12:15 pm There’s at least one other group of Orca for a total of 16 to 20 Whales all heading East towards Nodales Channel! The PWS Dolphins, around 500 of them, are right behind them churning the water with their splashes.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 12:
4:30 pm The A30’s, A25’s and A36’s were all foraging in Nodales Channel as they headed towards Frederick Arm.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 11:
8 am A36’s are in Nodales heading towards Frederick Arm.
11:15 am The A36 boys are foraging in Nodales around Davis Point.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 11:
3:30 pm Resident A36’s were at Sonora Point heading back down towards Davis Point. By the time I left them, around 4:30 pm, they were back up by Hall Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Resident Orca with Pacific White Sided Dolphin
2012
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Transient (Bigg’s) Killer Whales
September 13:
9:45 am We’re now at Cedarstead Creek with 2 Transients, a mom and calf, Eastbound.
12:15 pm T055’s and T059’s are Westing almost to Blinkhorn right now. They’re sleepy, but coming up on some Dall’s Porpoise….
Nick Templeman
September 13:
10:40 am 2 Transients were headed North by St Vincent Bight right at the same time as 3 Humpback Whales were Southbound in the same area. The Humpbacks took a deep dive to get past the Transients
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 13:
5 pm 8 Transient Orca between Texada Island and Rebecca Rocks Northbound.
Steven & Susan Grover, Powell River
September 13:
5:30 pm At least 10 Transients were back and forth off Rebecca Rocks, probably on the hunt. By 6 pm they had disappeared behind Texada assumed to continue South.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
September 12:
8:55 am Found 2 Transient Orca, 1 male 1 female, by Mary Point, Cortez Island – don’t know where the rest got to.
9:27 am Leaving the 2 Transients heading towards Manson’s Passage between Savary and Hernando Islands.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 11:
12:22 pm 7 – 10 Transients just took a seal off the rocks by Twin Islands and are angling towards Sarah Point and Desolation Sound.
1 pm Left them by Powell Islets headed towards Mary Point, Cortez Island.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 11:
3:19 pm Orca between Refuge Cove and Mink Island, still heading in towards Desolation Sound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 13:
7:31 am Humpback Whale near Cape Mudge Northbound – from Campbell River Resident.
9:11 am Humpy is at Race Point Northbound – it’s a small one.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 13:
8 am 1 Humpback Whale was spotted Northbound in front of Campbell River.
10:40 am 2 Transients were headed North by St Vincent Bight right at the same time as 3 Humpback Whales were Southbound in the same area. The Humpbacks took a deep dive to get past the Transients
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 13:
10:40 am A Humpback was spotted headed North by Plumper Bay, just up from Campbell River.
September 13:
2:50 pm Left the Humpback Southbound at Brown’s Bay.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
September 13:
Around 3-3:30 a single Whale went thru here today. As usual, by the time I saw it it was not possible to get a good look at it. Campers here in the park were saying it was a humpie. But Ron and I wonder? It was smaller we thought than a humpy. There was a good size blow but it just looked too small for a humpback. The dorsal also looked humpy as well. What else could it be? (It was that small Humpback Whale we’ve seen a few times lately – SM)
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown’s Bay
September 12:
12:45 am We heard a whale come through the passage last night just before 1 am. Sounded like a solo Humpback heading North. So beautiful!
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
September 11:
8 am 1 Humpback by Wilby Shoals area of Cape Mudge Southbound.
8 am 2 Humpback Whales in Deepwater Bay, just above Campbell River.
3:30 pm 2 Humpback Whales by Granite Point.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
September 13:
9:45 am Had about 300 plus PWS Dolphins at Fanny Island, Kelsey Bay area, heading East. Another 100 plus PWS Dolphins at Current Pass foraging.
Nick Templeman
September 13:
10 am 20+ PWS Dolphins reported by Horne Point, Dent Rapids
September 13:
10 am A minimum of 500 PWS Dolphins filled the narrow Current Pass.
Around 1 pm there was a small group of PWS Dolphins by Okisollo Channel, never saw them on the later run.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 13:
5 pm 50 PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 12:
8 am 200 PWS Dolphins by Dent Rapids in Denham Bay.
September 12:
10 am 150 PWS Dolphins Westbound in Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
September 12:
12:15 pm A huge group of PWS Dolphins – there’s around 500 of them – are spread right across Johnstone Strait by Bear Bight. They’re going off like popcorn – churning the water with their splashes.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 12:
2:15 pm or so… about 50 PWS Dolphins. Heading towards Seymour Narrows.
Jacquie Nevinger, Brown’s Bay
September 12:
4:38 pm Around 40 – 50 PWS Dolphins by McMullen Point.
September 11:
11:15 am 100+ Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging and playing around Horne Bay, Dent Rapids.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 11:
4 pm The PWS Dolphins were still back and forth by Horne Point to Horne Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise
September 13:
12:15 pm Some Dall’s Porpoise in line with some Transients up by Blinkhorn.
Nick Templeman
September 12:
8:55 am A few Dall’s were speeding away – Transients were just around the corner.
Scotty, Painter’s Lodge
September 12:
12:15 pm A few Dall’s Porpoise by Turn Island, close to Chatham Point.
September 12:
3:06 pm A few small groups of Dall’s Porpoise between Orford Bay and Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet. 3 to 4 animals in each group.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
