Dolphins – Orca – Dolphins – Humpbacks – Dolphins
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
The weather is phenomenally good and with the calm seas, it’s easy to spot any cetaceans. They’re just being elusive. Other than the Pacific White Sided Dolphins who have appeared in numbers all over the place, including finally by Powell River, the Transient Orca have made stealthy moves, but were viewed briefly, and a couple of Humpback Whales also did a disappearing act. It’s hard to image such a large animal can be evasive, but it is a big ocean! A few Dall’s Porpoise have finally reappeared, and there’s a report of Grey Whale spotted off Saltery Bay.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Transient Orca
October 5, 2012
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient (Bigg’s)Killer Whales
October 6:
5 pm 3 or 4 Orca were spotted at the West end of Hole in the Wall. No direction given. Relayed message.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
And when I got back to the dock (after the afternoon tour) I learned that one of our boats encountered 3-4 transients including one male, northbound at the west end of hole in the wall around 5pm.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 5:
2:40 pm 4 to 5 Transient Orca by Hidden Basin, Campbell River headed towards Cape Mudge on the Quadra Island shore.
Ritchie Rich, Campbell River
October 5:
2:45 pm At least 5 Transient Orca Northbound now off Cape Mudge.
3:51 pm Looks like 2 groups of Transients, 1 group is all small fins.
October 5:
4:30 pm I saw those Orca – all small fins. Last seen just before the flood began by Race Point still Northbound.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 5:
4:30 (or so) pm 5 Transient Orca, all small fins…probably at Race point by now. Pretty Cool!!
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
October 5:
4:50 pm Left the 5 Transient Orca, all small fins, just past the mill in Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Transient Orca
October 5, 2012
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
October 6:
8:25 am 4 to 5 PWS Dolphins just off Cape Mudge village.
10 am Had 60 PWS Dolphins Easting at Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet, and the same group zig zagging at Clipper Point, Bute Inlet at 3 pm
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
8:25 am Large group of PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm.
October 6:
11:28 am 65+ PWS Dolphins come up the East side of Texada heading around Coho Point (the NW tip of Texada) looking like they were going to continue down the West side of Texada, but turned and ran at high speed past Rebecca Rocks (in front of Powell River), past us fishing off the end of Harwood Island and continued, still at high speed towards Savary Island. There was one lone Dolphin at the back of the pack which seemed to have trouble keeping up and even breathing….possibly being chased by Orca??
Steve Grover, Powell River
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
October 6, 2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 6:
12:15 pm 500 – 1000 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. They were very playful. Some split off from the group and headed to Hall point, Nodales Channel and angled towards Phillips Arm.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
October 6:
1:09 pm I’m told there are between 500 to 1000 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. Garry also had 75 at Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.
On the following Eco trip we had about 200 PWS Dolphins surfing and frolicking in the glassy smooth sunlit waters of Thurston bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
October 6:
1:40 pm Blows off Hernando towards Twin islands – could be Orca, but most likely PWS Dolphins.
Cam M.
October 5:
12:06 pm 15 PWS Dolphins at Kanish Bay.
12:30 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins by Thurston Bay Marine Park.
October 5:
1 pm Couple of hundred PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel.
Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris
October 4:
9:25 am 100 PWS Dolphins at McMullen Point.
Sharkey, Oak Bay Hurricane
October 4:
9:25 am 75 PWS Dolphins by Beazley Pass, Surge Narrows just foraging.
4:57 pm 300 PWS Dolphins by Greensea Bay, Chatham Point area, foraging.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
October 4:
12:25 pm Several hundred PWS Dolphins Easting by Harding Island, Nodales Channel.
(didn’t catch who), Discovery Marine Safaris
October 4:
around 3:25 – 4:30 pm Left the PWS Dolphins at Howe Island heading into Discovery Passage. It was a Georgeous Day!! Tons of sea lions feeding in Innes Passage really amazing to watch!! We are so lucky here with the scenery and wildlife…And all the wintering waterfowl are starting to show up too!!
Jen, Campbell River Whale Watching
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
October 6, 2012
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Humpback Whales
October 6:
1 pm Couple of Humpback Whales by Chatham Point Lightstation light. No direction.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
October 4:
3:30 pm A Humpback by Little Bear Bay angling towards Chatham Point Eastbound.
Commercial Fishing Vessels
Grey (or Gray) Whale
October 5:
3:15 pm At first we thought it was a log in the water, then the ferry captain announced that it was a grey whale. We were on the Earl’s Cove – Saltery Bay Ferry and had just rounded Captain’s Island. The whale just stayed on the surface while the ferry passed quite close. The whale didn’t show a tail fluke, but did a bit of splashing with it’s head. It looked all one colour, but the lighting was poor. (note: it’s very unusual to see a Grey Whale in this area, and it is possible that this was actually a Humpback Whale lunge feeding based on verbal description of colour and head splash – SM)
Tony and Margaret Dawkins, Sechelt
Dall’s Porpoise
October 6:
Day: I had 6 Dall’s Porpoise at Arran Point then a nice female grizzly eating a chum at the Orford, Bute Inlet, followed by 6 more Dall’s at Orford bay on the way home.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge
