Cetacean Sightings: Orca, Humpback Whales and Dolphins

Sightings Reports include a few Transient Orca, a Humpback Whale and Pacific White Sided Dolphins. Orca bucked the trend by appearing two days in a row. With fewer people out on the water and walking beaches just looking at the ocean, as well as fewer summer tours, reports are shrinking, as usual, for the winter. The Cetaceans haven’t been as co-operative in areas such as Powell River, where the complaint has been, "Where are they? Have the draggers made that much of a difference?" A reminder to all that Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise are still out there and your reports are all important. Keep looking!

3:18 pm Possible Orca between Mary Point, Cortez Island and Twin Islands. This report was a second hand report in from Cam M. but could not be confirmed, although Jos, Eagle Eye Adventures did go to look for them, but could not locate any Orca.

8:05 am Large gang of Transient Orca inbound off Cape Mudge. At red can buoy now – smokin’ Northbound at about 6 – 8 knots. There’s at least one very large male.

8:15 am They’re really smokin’ North – passing TsaKwaLuten Lodge (Cape Mudge village) already – nice way to start the day 🙂 Although not confirmed, they had the look of T101’s and T102’s. 4 or 6 Transient Orca – pretty lumpy out there.

October 2:

8:43 am Orca in front of Campbell River Marina heading North at around 9 or 10 knots in the very sloppy chop – too rough to stay with them at all. (Note: no-one found them after that due to winds and seas – SM)

5:45 pm Transient Orca at Viner Point, Read Island. Aaron on scene. 2 Orca for sure Southbound.

6:20 pm 4 Orca Viner Point heading towards Whale Passage. Couldn’t stay too long due to winds and seas too rough.

October 1:

6:21 pm 2 + Orca in Baker Pass angling towards the Copeland Islands.

8:45 (or so) am Radio call to Whale Watchers, but vessel in Plumper Bay did not say what was seen. Later on it became clear it was to report a Humpback Whale that was confirmed by Campbell River North of the Marina.

8:58 am Possible Humpback Whale off Chatham Point Lightstation. Big blow spotted.

12:25 pm Some PWS Dolphins foraging by Rock Bay.

10 am Bunch of PWS Dolphins headed up the channel. Lost radio contact with Elvis on his Fishing Vessel, so couldn’t find out whether it was up Nodales or Okisollo Channel and how many.

October 2:

2:11 pm 200 – 300 PWS Dolphins Eastbound into Okisollo Channel by Howe Island.

12:30 pm 150 or so PWS Dolphins by Kanish Bay.