Catch up Cetacean Sightings Report; NRKWs Transients, Humpbacks, Dolphins and Porpoise

This is a catch up report including a couple of missed entries from the July 29, 2013 posting. Hopefully the feed blockage is finally fixed – again apologies to our email subscribers.

There has been a lot of Cetacean life out there so things have been busy. We have Humpback Whale reports from the San Juans, Roberts Creek, Powell River, Campbell River and where they were expected, the top of Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound. Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales have spread themselves out with too many reports to summarize here, so read below. Northern Resident Killer Whales pleased everyone by coming down as far as Nodales Channel with the A36 brothers hanging about for a couple of days foraging till the A8’s arrived and departed. Pacific White Sided Dolphins were becoming residents in and around Nodales Channel till the Transient Bigg’s Orca (meat eaters) chased them off. They returned happily through a back channel. Few reports come in about the little Harbour Porpoise or Dall’s Porpoise, in particular when there is so much other activity.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Call 1-877-323-9776or Email your report.

Every sighting report is valuable!

August 6:

10:52 am 9 NRKWs right by Cracroft Point Eastbound towards the Sophias, Blackfish Sound/Johnstone Strait junction while the A30’s are heading West up Blackfish Sound.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 6:

Throughout the day: The A25’s and A23’s were just across Johnstone Strait from Robson Bight Ecological Reserve while the A8’s made it into the Reserve. The two A36 boys were found in the fog close to the A30’s in Blackfish Sound.

August 5:

7 am 2 Orca spotted by fishermen Westbound by Davis Point angling out of Nodales Channel.

August 5:

7:30 am At least 4 Orca Eastbound in Johnstone Strait just above Ripple Point. From son-in-law on commercial fishing vessel.

August 5:

9:07 am the A36 boys are in Nodales by Thruston Bay Marine park. Other Orca are by Chatham Point.

9:24 am 6 Resident Orca by Chatham Point across from the entrance to Nodales Channel; 1 Male and 1 calf for sure.

9:53 am rest of Orca have entered Nodales Channel.

August 5:

10:36 am Resident Orca Eastbound passing Davis point heading up Nodales Channel.

August 5:

11:57 am A8’s and A36’s are heading towards Frederick Arm, above Nodales Channel.

1:31 pm Resident Orca now heading out of Frederick Arm into Nodales Channel. By Hall Point now and Westbound.

August 5:

7:30-8 pm Watched the A36 brothers head past Hardinge Island out of Nodales Channel towards Chatham Point.

August 4:

8:22 am Couple Orca spotted in Frederick Arm possibly A36’s.

August 4:

11:20 am The A36 boys are foraging between Hall Point and Owen Point between Nodales Channel and Fredericks Arm.

August 4:

3:15 pm Left the A36’s between Owen Point and Hall Point between Nodales Channel and Fredericks Arm.

August 4:

6 pm Left the A36 brothers at the North-East end of Nodales Channel, by Sonora point heading West slowly side by side.

August 3:

12:19 pm Orca at Windy Point in Johnstone Strait Eastbound. Might be the A36’s (later confirmed)

August 3:

3:34 pm Humpback Whale Westbound in Johnstone Strait while the A36’s are Eastbound in the same area; 1 mile West of Camp Point.

August 3:

3:12 pm A36’s Eastbound at Camp Point doing 9 knots.

4:20 pm Left the A36’s one mile above Bear Point mid channel Eastbound at 4 knots.

8:22 pm Left the A36’s by Howe Island at the entrance to Nodales Channel Eastbound.

August 2:

1:09 pm A8’s are Eastbound along Hanson Island, and A36’s are crossing Blackfish Eastbound also. Top of Johnstone Strait.

August 1:

9 am Orca Southbound by St Vincent’s Bight, Johnstone Strait. They’re spread out about a mile.

August 1:

10:47 am Orca Eastbound at York Island, across from Kelsey Bay.

12:31 pm 20+ Resident Orca at Camp Point Johnstone Strait Eastbound.

August 1:

1:15 pm There’s a split in the group of Orca. Half continued East and the other half are resting at Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.

3:28 pm Orca are entering Nodales Channel at Howe Island.

August 1:

3:05 pm Orca Eastbound by Rock Bay, Chatham Point area.

August 1:

5 pm 10 NRKW Easting to Sonora Point Nodales Channel.

5:50 pm Fisherman report whales have turned West and are heading towards Thurston Bay.

August 6:

1:14 pm 2 Orca running tight to shore by Albion (Black) Point below Myrtle Rocks Powell River. There’s one big male.

August 6:

1:30 pm 3 Orca; 1 Male and two smaller ones were Northbound past Armour Road, close to Myrtle Rocks.

August 6:

3:30 pm Transient Orca Northbound by Rebecca Rocks, Powell River.

5:12 pm 3 Orca; T101, T101B and T102 angling towards Mystery Reef off Savary Island.

August 6:

4:10 pm Transient Orca now at the top North side of Harwood Island off Powell River.

August 6:

4:28 pm 3 Bigg’s one mile off the West end of Harwood Island, Powell River area.

August 6:

5:57 pm 3 Orca now at Grant’s Reef, off Savary island heading towards West tip of Savary Island.

August 6:

6 pm I saw two orca going NW at a point about 3km NW of Grant Reefs buoy at
6:00 PM today. They appeared to be a mature male and a smaller orca. Their pace was steady, slow to medium speed.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island

August 5:

10:35 am At least 6 Orca heading towards red can buoy off Cape Mudge from fishing guide.

1:31 pm The 6 Transient Bigg’s Orca turned by Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River and headed South.

August 5:

10:36 am Orca blows moving quickly Northbound from Mitlenatch.

10:46 am 9 Orca off the fishing Hump by Cape Mudge Northbound.

August 5:

11:10 am Bigg’s Orca midstrait between Cape Mudge and Vancouver Island Northbound.

1 pm Leaving the Transients at the mouth of Campbell River Northbound.

August 5:

11:31 am Orca are Northbound between Quathiaski Cove and Campbell River.

August 5:

2:17 pm Transients now between Shelter Point and Cape Mudge moving South fast. They were all over the place back and forth. Possibly chasing something.

August 5:

2:57 pm Orca headed towards light off Texada, Blubber Bay.

August 4:

While waiting for the Whaletown ferry on Cortes Island this am around 8 am I saw a very large pod of frolicking orcas swimming by the entrance to the cove. They were very “loud” swimmers and even left a wake of sorts. Beautiful sight and definitely a highlight of our trip!

August 4:

9 am Pod of Orca are Eastbound by Ripple Point in Johnstone Strait mid-channel.

August 4:

12:16 pm Left the T101’s and T102 Southbound at 6.5 knots 2 miles west of Browns Bay within 100 meters off Vancouver Island shoreline.

August 4:

12:30 pm Bigg’s Orca Southbound by Browns Bay 100 meters from shore.

August 4:

1:18 pm Killer Whales in Sutil Channel angling towards Viner Point, Read Island.

1:50 pm 5 Transient Bigg’s close to Whaletown, Cortez Island. They’re very active right on the ferry route.

August 4:

2:01 pm T101’s are right by Campbell River Fishing Pier Southbound at 8 knots!

3:40 pm Left the T101’s between Sentry Shoal and Vancouver Island.

5:26 pm On another trip out, left Orca Southbound by the South end of Marina Island.

August 4:

5:26 pm Leaving the T101’s and T102.

August 4:

5:34 pm Left Orca heading South at the South end of Marina Island.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 3:

2:50 pm 3 Orca Westbound at Bjerre Rock in Okisollo Channel.

August 3:

3:47 pm Left Transients at Venture Point just inside Okisollo Channel.

August 3:

5:14 pm T’s are in Okisollo Channel coming to the mouth of Discovery Passage.

5:32 pm Transients heading South in Discovery Passage towards the Dolphins.

6:18 pm 3 Transients heading North in Discovery Passage just past the mouth of Okisollo Channel.

August 2:

7 pm 2 Transients Westbound by Hickey Point, Johnston Strait.

July 31:

9:05 pm Left Orca Southbound by Race Point Discovery Passage.

August 1:

3:05 pm 2 groups of Orca by Billy Goat Bay, Helmken Island heading West.

August 6:

8:52 am 2 Humpbacks reported off Mitlenatch Island – no direction.

5:12 pm Humpback between Sentry Shoal and Savary Island foraging.

August 6:

4:10 pm Humpback between Savary Island and Harwood Island.

August 6:

4:48 pm Humpback Whale is off Manson Passage between Savary and Hernando Islands angling towards Mitlenatch Island.

August 5:

Hi Susan,having heard there were humpbacks up near Powell River, I have been keeping a special eye out for them down here on the southern coast.
Early this morning while paddle boarding with my wife we had the pleasure of a humpback cruise by us while we were out front near Flume Beach Park in Roberts Creek. I am a sailor,kayaker and a stand-up paddle boarder and have been on the water in the lower Strait for over 50 years and have never had the pleasure of seeing one of these guys down here!. It was awesome!

August 4:

7:58 am report of a Humpback Whale by Quathiaski Cove – no direction given. From Painters boat.

August 4:

12:15 pm Left one Humpback Westbound by Chatham Point.

August 4:

1 pm Left Humpback Westing by Turn Island in Johnstone Strait.

August 3:

11:13 am Humpback off Kelsey Bay no direction.

3:34 pm Humpback Whale Westbound in Johnstone Strait while the A36’s are Eastbound in the same area; 1 mile West of Camp Point.

August 3:

2:25 pm Humpback Whale by Humpback Bay above Ripple Point in Johnstone Strait.

August 2:

Humpback Westbound by Kelsey Bay.

August 2:

1:44 pm Humpback just North of Mitlenatch island. Breaching and tail slapping – awesome.

2:25 pm 2 Humpback Whales; one by Baker Pass, Hernando Island and the other mid way between Baker Pass and Mitlenatch Island.

August 2:

4:20 pm Humpback off Hernando Island and another out towards Mitlenatch.

August 2:

4:30 pm What a surprise as we looked for the Humpbacks towards Mitlenatch. One came up right in front of the boat. Stalled the boat to a quick stop.

August 1:

8 am Humpback Whale right out in front of Powell River.

8 pm A Humpback is breaching over and over between Coho Point, Texada and Rebecca Rocks, Powell River. (There’s possibly two of them.)

Yesterday evening (July 31) off Coho Point one was doing fin slaps etc. – 3^rd hand report.

August 1:

7:10 pm Humpback off of Rebecca Rocks again. Looks to be heading south.

Jessica Dohm, Powell River

August 1:

10:29 pm We have been watching a single humpback whale (?) off Coho Point, from our house in Westview, since about 2000. It is still out there but appears to be moving further west a bit.

July 31:

2:45 pm Humpback Whale just off Blubber Bay, Texada.

July 30:

6-6:30 pm Watched a Humpback just off Harwood Island, Powell River.

July 29:

around 6 pm 2 Humpback Whales feeding around Grant’s Reef doing circles around the fishermen for hours. Second hand report.

July 20: rec. Aug 2:

We had three humpback whales on Tuesday July 20th in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

I was never able to get a full fluke ID shot but here are the two that obliged with their prelude to a deep dive. The other one , a much smaller humpy never did show any

tail.

Today , Friday August 2nd we had 3 more Humpbacks, one we ID, as BCY0324.

August 6:

9 am PWS Dolphins at Hall Point.

11:29 am PWS Dolphins now foraging by Davis Point.

August 6:

6:40 pm 50-60 PWS Dolphins foraging in Hoskyns Channel, between Quadra and Read islands towards Beazely Pass.

August 5:

8:56 am At least a few of the PWS Dolphins were spotted at the top of Lewis Channel. A few blows could be seen from the chop.

August 5:

11:57 am 100+ PWS Dolphins are Northbound in the Yuculta Rapids – sort of stalled by Jimmy Judd Island, Gillard Pass fighting current.

August 3:

8:43 am 100 PWS Dolphins Eastbound into Okisollo Channel past Metcalf Islands, by first fishfarm.

August 3:

10:30 am PWS Dolphins by Deepwater Bay towards Brown’s Bay.

August 3:

11:38 am 75 PWS Dolphins Northbound at Granite Point Discovery Pass.

August 3:

4:22 pm 50-75 PWS Dolphins Northbound surfing in a barge wake by Deepwater Bay.

August 3:

5:20 pm The Dolphins are are heading straight for the Transient Orca!

August 3:

6:04 pm I think the Dolphins got work of the Transients. They were heading North then suddenly turned South and bolted hell bent for leather! Left them mid channel approaching Brown’s Bay. John on Eagle 30 said the T’s may have had a kill.

August 3:

6:18 pm PWS Dolphins at Seymour Narrows Southbound FAST.

August 2:

11:02 am Large group of Dolphins at Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel.

August 2:

11:02 am 50-100 PWS Dolphins by Denham Bay.

August 2:

11:55 am over 250 PWS Dolphins are putting on an incredible performance. They have had new born calves over the past couple of days. They’re sooo tiny.

August 2:

4 pm Left around 120 PWS Dolphins by Denham Island spread to Denham Bay.

August 1:

1:15 pm PWS Dolphins at Davis Point.

August 1:

2:48 pm Approx. 100 PWS Dolphins foraging about Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.

August 1:

3:28 pm 50 Dolphins back and forth at Davis Point, Nodales Channel.

August 1:

3:46 pm Dolphins are Westbound out of Nodales Channel. They’re passing Howe Island on the Thurlow Side.

July 30:

8:30 – 9 pm 4 PWS Dolphins heading South-west by Grant’s Reef off Savary Island.

August 6:

1 pm I also saw two harbour porpoise close to Grant Reefs buoy about 1PM today.

August 6:

4:48 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise a Mom and calf heading West past Helmken Island, off Kelsey Bay.

5:20 pm Looks like same two foraging in the tide rips of Current Passage.

August 2:

1:28 pm 1 or 2 Dall’s Porpoise foraging between Copeland and Twin Islands.

August 1:

11:30 am 3 Dall’s Porpoise at Horn Bay, above the Yuculta Rapids.