Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale Superpod! Humpbacks and Porpoise Too.

In the latter part of April, I had a sense that something was brewing – see my last two reports. Various pods of Transient, Bigg’s, Orca seemed to be gathering. They culminated in what we can only call a ‘Superpod’ of these meat eating Killer Whales. Today was a confirmation of the gathering. There were over 25 Orca in one area! The reports are grouped by person submitting during the day. In the previous report I had managed to photograph a number of the whales. Of these I could identify T02C’s, T60’s and there are a few others. All this activity is just a reminder to all to please contact us so this information can be logged. Every sighting report is valuable, even if it’s late, if you don’t have a chance at the time, or aren’t even sure; all reports are all important.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

May 2: (this is the last report of the day)

6:45 pm 3-4 Orca including one large male are heading South by Armour – Stark Road (Albion Point area South of Powell River)

Taken (photo below) this evening (May 2/13) at approximately 6:30 pm south of Powell River at the end of Whalen Road. They danced around in a circle for about 1/2 hr then headed south. We have noticed several big flocks of birds the past couple of days out on the water so there must be some good feed out there.

9:18 am 3 Orca were spotted Southbound between April point and the Quadra ferry terminal. There was one big male. From the April Point Connector.

6:20 pm Some of the Orca are now half way between the fishing hump off Cape Mudge and Miracle Beach on Vancouver Island.

May 2:

9:27 am Just got the binos on them and looks like 4 to 5 Orca.

11:18 am Just received a report from my buddy Sam of 2 groups of KW’s headed south in Discovery Pass off Granite Point. Sounds like quite a few animals. Maybe Southern Residents?

1:11 Yup, just spoke to Garry (Aboriginal Journeys)- sounds like they stalled up there in the rapids.

5:55 pm There are some off Cape Mudge, some in Discovery Pass by April Point, and some still up by Maud Island, Seymour Narrows.

7:11 pm Finally out there with them and still Southbound at 5.5 knots between Salmon Point and the Red can buoy off Cape Mudge.

7:35 pm It’s awesome! I just saw 8 Harbour Porpoise in a tight group slide quietly behind the KW’s and away…was pretty funny.

8 pm Left the scene. They were all lined up between Mitlenatch Island and Salmon Point; still Southbound.

11:48 am Around 40+ Orca were putting on a great show just off Brown’s Bay (north of Campbell River). They’re headed South.

12:07 pm Just based on numbers, it looks like these Orca might be Southern Residents…it’s a big group by No Name Creek (Brown’s Bay). First count is at least 12-14 animals….a bit later, 16 – 18 animals. By 2 pm they were by Seymour Narrows bucking the large ebb tide; looks like at least 25 different animals. I left them still stalled against the ebb around 3:45 pm up by Maud Island in Discovery Pass. I’m sure I saw T02C’s.

After hearing descriptions, I asked if the big male with unique cuts in his dorsal was T063 – Jos, Eagle Eye Adventures had his ID book with him and confirmed the ID. See also Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursion’s photo.

11-11:30 am 4 Orca (assumed T’s – SM) were spotted Southbound. From neighbour. Just got back and started to photograph the submarine and helicopter manoeuvres out in front of Powell River.

11:30 am Orca Southbound by Hernando shore towards Keifer Rock / Dog Bay.

9:36 am 4 Orca are Southbound just past the old barge terminal in Powell River.

Late in the day, we saw 3-4 Orca Southbound off Albion Point.

7:55 pm Just spotted 6 Orca, including some smaller ones heading south off Myrtle Rocks in the Malaspina Strait. Left a message for you on the hotline.

4:26 pm 2 Humpback Whales by Greensea Bay / Kanish Bay above Campbell River heading north towards Chatham Point.

April 23:

About 8pm. The strangest thing, but I saw a whale about 100 ft off shore at Grief Point. On my deck and it quickly surfaced, breathed and dove again out of site. It was big and after viewing several sites I believe it was a humpback because of the dorsal fin. My neighbour saw it as well so I wasn’t mistaking it for a sea lion which it was way too large for. We saw about 30 ft of its back. So is this possible?

Jim Agius, Powell River

11 am Around 10 Harbour Porpoise about 1 mile off the can buoy at Cape Mudge. Haven’t seen that many in one place for a long time. I’m still looking for the first group of Orca.

7:35 pm It’s awesome! I just saw 8 Harbour Porpoise in a tight group slide quietly behind the KW’s and away…was pretty funny.

April 28:

4:30 pm Wanted to report a sighting of probably 3-5 porpoises in the Straight of Georgia, between the shoreline of Secret Beach, Gibsons and Hermit Island. They were heading NE at a slow rate, far out from shore. Would surface and do some repeated surfacing for about a 1 minute and then disappear for 20 min or more. Given their small group and slow progress, I think they were harbour porpoises.

B. Towns

9:30 am About 20 animals (this is assumed dolphins rather than Dall’s or Harbour Porpoise – SM)

2:45 pm Just received an anonymous email that someone thought they saw a whale breach between Twin and Cortez Islands.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise? Call 1-877-323-9776 or Emailyour report. Every sighting report is valuable!