Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins around the upper Georgia Strait. One male Orca, T40 has a very distinctive dorsal and is known as "Captain Hook" for a good reason. See photos below. The dolphins have been foraging around in groups of two to 100.

The toll free reporting number 1-877-323-9776 is working, but please bear with the quirks and need to streamline the message. It goes to voicemail sooner than anticipated, before there’s a chance to pick up, so please leave a message with your sightings information. The voicemail will be changed, but currently still answers as Susan MacKay. Every Sightings report is important – keep looking – they are out there!

1:45 pm 4 Orca were right in Okeover Inlet (runs from Desolation Sound in behind Lund) for about an hour. There were 2 large fins (males) and 2 smaller ones (females or juveniles). One has a very flopped over dorsal – odd looking. They’re heading North out of the inlet now.

3:08 pm Just leaving them heading out of Okeover Inlet. 4 or 5 total. ‘Captain Hook’ T40 plus 3 (for sure) small fins, T41, T41A and T41A1.

3:36 pm Just left ‘Captain Hook’ and the rest of the Orca at Sarah Point angling South-West towards the Copeland Islands. 4 Orca; 2 young ones, T40 ‘Captain Hook’ and a mid-size female.

2:37 pm Call came in from a regular reporter that 3 Orca 1 male, 1 female and 1 young one were heading towards Powell River proper from the Armour Road (Myrtle Rocks) area South of town. Thanks, as always, for the heads up.

3:40 pm Found the Orca, definitely Transient Bigg’s, as they crossed in front of of Powell River. I did see 3 at first, then only 2. The very big male looked like T87 with a dorsal that slopes to his left. He and a female continued past the mill and I lost sight of just the two of them just past the Atrevida Reef buoy angling towards Major Rock and Mace Point on the Eastern tip of Savary Island.

Note: This male Orca was definitely not T40, so we’ve had a greater number of whales in the area than spotted or reported. Looking at the photos, the whales were: T40, T86A, T86A1 and T86A3 which would also make sense with having T87 in the neighbourhood. It’s very possible that the T41’s also were around, since T40 normally travels with them, but without photos this could not be confirmed.

4:23 pm Just got a text from Janeen’s brother of two Orca at Grief Point headed North. (I kept watch, but never saw these ones pass Powell River. The 3^rd one may have hung back and waited from report above. – SM)

4:01 pm 100 PWS Dolphins headed Southbound towards Mitlenatch Island. They’re 2 miles from Mitlenatch going back and forth feeding.

2:38 pm Approximately 50 PWS Dolphins all spread out (with some friendly ones :)) at No Name Creek, just North of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.

4 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Westbound in Cordero Channel.

3:10 pm 12 PWS Dolphins by Denham Bay heading towards Frederick Arm.

4:05 pm Another 20 PWS Dolphins Westbound at the mouth of Nodales Channel. (Other than the ones noted above). Another 50 PWS Dolphins by Howe Island just entering Discovery Passage, then another 10 more at Green Sea Bay, just around the corner. Great trip and nice escort back to the marina.

Late reports, and a bit vague as to time and day, but there have been 2 to 4 PWS Dolphins seen during the long weekend out in front of Powell River and towards the Mill and Atrevida Reef.

Call Whales and Dolphins BC toll free Sightings Hotline: 1-877-323-9776

To report your whale, dolphin or porpoise sighting.