Humpback Whales and Dolphins – few Transients and Dall’s

October 28, 2012 — issue No. 2012-097

Whales and Dolphins are on the move, and being spotted, in the inside waters of Georgia Strait closer to the mainland. The noise that an earthquake creates is enormous and must be deafeningly loud to them. They would want to have something like a few islands between themselves and the origin of the noise to block some of the sound. By now everyone is aware of the magnitude 7.7 earthquake Occtober 27, 2012 in the Queen Charlotte Islands, now called Haida Gwaii. It was felt as far down the BC coast as Vancouver.

Few Transient Orca reports, but Humpback Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins are being spotted more frequently in different locations. A few Dall’s Porpoise reports and a link to a YouTube video of a Humpback Whale disentanglement.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

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Humpback Whales

Humpback BCY027 "Maude"

Tail Flukes

October 28, 2012

Susan MacKay, SG Images

October 28:

At 9.45 am today we sighted a humpback in the Malaspina Strait between Pebble Beach, Powell River and Van Anda, Texada. It was very slowly heading south, taking long dives and showing it’s tail fluke. Still in the same area an hour later.

Such a thrill!

Holly Roy and Bob Brooks, Powell River

October 28:

12 pm till around 3 pm Thanks to Holly’s (above report) telephone guidance my neighbour Judy and I found the Humpback whale just off Myrtle Rocks in a bit of choppy seas. She stayed in the area resting a fair bit on the surface and working towards shore then back out slowly. Not tremendously active, we were pleased to see those beautiful tail flukes a few times. We left her (yes, a female!) close to Beach Gardens Marina as she turned to head out of the shallows and back towards Myrtle Rocks, just South of Powell River. After checking the photos, I managed to make a positive ID as BCY027 also known as "Maude". This is a whale I hadn’t seen since either 1999 or 2000 so I was excited to see that she’s still around, and so close to Powell River! The healed gouges on her left flank resemble marks from a large shark bite – see photo.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

October 27: (report received on 28^th)

Around 11 a.m Saturday, while the Powell River sailing club was out racing, a Humpback was spotted near the light on Cyril Rocks south of Blubber Bay close in to Texada Island. The Humpback was heading South, just showing its full back.. strong south east winds but easily spotted in the rain.

Laura Johnson, Powell River

October 25:

8 am Humpback Whale Northbound by Deepwater Bay, off Campbell River.

2 pm Found Two good sized Humpbacks and left them foraging still in Deepwater Bay. They were being very shy, doing long dives.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

Humpback BCY027 "Maude"

Left Flank Shark Bite?

October 28, 2012

Susan MacKay, SG Images

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales – Orca

October 27:

4 pm Just got a report (6:20 pm) from a guy at the fuel dock that 8 to 10 Orca were heading northbound past Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

October 24: (received 25^th)

5 pm 4 Transient Orca were Northbound by No Name Creek.

Elvis on Fishing Boat

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

October 28:

10:15 am Dolphins close to commercial fishboats somewhere off Comox. No numbers or direction or response to my radio call.

October 28:

6 pm Just arrived in Horseshoe Bay from Nanaimo on the 3pm ferry.. half way between , the ferry captain came on and told us about large pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins just ahead.. hundreds! Barely parted for ferry to pass, riding stern waves.. quite a show.. but definitely hundreds of individuals, and they stayed in the same area until we were too far away to see their splash .. very active, circling, breeching, wonderful for those of us on board… what a gift!
Anne Hamilton

October 28:

2:26 pm 10 or so PWS Dolphins in the Raggeds (Copeland Islands, off Lund). Porpoise too.

Gordie Coles, Savary Island / Lund

October 25:

8 am 50 – 60 PWS Dolphins Northbound by Okisollo Channel.

2:45 pm A dozen PWS Dolphins foraging by Howe Island.

4:30 pm A dozen PWS Dolphins milling at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys

October 25:

11:52 am Dolphin pod off Boyer island, at least a hundred. Just now. I live on Strachan point road and we see them a lot. They were headed West – for the moment.

Marci Cooper