Ceatcean Sightings and fixing Email feed

The email subscribers are still only receiving the posts manually, unfortunately, but at least I am able to send the direct links out. In a drastic attempt to finally fix the blockage, I will be removing all images from the time the blockage started and attempt to send them out with text only….very sorry for any inconvenience of duplicated reports, and no photos. I will post some photos after to try to catch them up also.

Cetacean Sightings are up everywhere, but of some noticeable absence are the number of Humpback Whales off the Powell River to Savary area. Both Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Resident Orca have been showing up almost in the same areas, while the Pacific White Sided Dolphins appear to be back in residence in Nodales Channel.

There has been a delay in preparing this report which I hoped to post on August 11^th, but, due to an injury to my right index finger, too many breaks are needed as I type. A million thanks to all of our regular whale watching boat community for helping out when I was in need – my specific thanks are below the report.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

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

Every sighting report is valuable

August 14:

5:31 pm summary; A30’s were at Blinkhorn just below Telegraph Cove, heading East with lots of breaching, spy hopping and tail slapping. The A5’s were off Lizard Point, Malcom Island.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 13:

5:09 pm A30’s and A8’s just left Weynton Pass heading East. A23’s and A25’s last seen at the East end of the reserve, now unaccounted for, so will keep our eyes open on the way home to Kelsey Bay.

Discovery Marine Safaris Boat

August 12:

9:15 am 5 Orca between Ripple Point and Chatham Island Westbound.

August 12:

1:50 pm The A8’s are in the lead rounding Ripple Point. A30’s are at Ripple. They’re all Westbound and foraging.

2:32 pm They’re all half mile East of Humpback Bay still Westing.

4:30 pm The A30’s are at Camp Point rubbing while the A8’s are Westing ahead.

August 12:

10 am Found 4 Orca just above Chatham Point Eastbound. There’s more like 10 to 15!! They’re angling towards Nodales Channel.

August 12:

10:15 am The Chatham Point Orca were the A30’s plus others. (I lost track of who gave the Identification – SM) But A23’s and A25’s are at the top of Johnstone Strait.

August 12:

11:56 am Some Orca, possibly the A30’s Westbound by Howe Island.

12:54 pm A30’s foraging between Chatham Point and Howe Island and the entrance to Nodales Channel.

August 12:

4:24 pm A8’s and A30’s slowly Westbound against the flood tide at Camp Point.

August 11:

10:44 am 8 Orca are Eastbound by Kelsey Bay.

11:29 am The A8’s are Easting at Camp Point, below Kelsey Bay.

3:15 pm the A25’s (7 Orca) are Westbound at Hickey Point above Kelsey Bay.

5:30 pm A8’s foraging near Davis Point in Nodales Channel.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 11:

11:49 am The A30’s and A36 boys are up the top of Johnstone Strait.

August 11:

1:21 pm Just picked up Orca by Tyee Point, bottom of Race Passage.

1:34 pm A60 plus 2 others escorted by 2 or 3 PWS Dolphins Westbound now at Camp Point heading into Race Passage.

August 11:

2:25 pm Found the NRKW’s by the river at Kelsey Bay. They’re still Westing.

August 11:

2:49 pm 4 Orca Southbound right by Ripple Point from boater (whose name I couldn’t quite make out, but think it was Dog Days – SM)

August 11:

3:15 pm Found the Orca still at Ripple Point slowly Southbound. Stayed with them till Rock Bay just above Chatham Point so other could find them.

August 11:

5 pm The A8’s crossed from Rock Bay to Nodales Channel.

August 10:

10:40 am A30’s went into Weynton Pass, Blackfish Sound and A36’s went into Robson Bight.

August 10:

10:40 am A36’s heading into reserve (Robson Bight) while the A8’s, 25’s and 23’s all up around the Telegraph Cove area heading East.

12:10 pm A36’s are still in the reserve while the A8’s were at Kaikash Eastbound towards the reserve.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 9:

8:09 am Orca reported by fisherman at Sonora Point, Nodales Channel – A36’s

Jack Springer & Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching

August 9:

11:53 am The A8’s are Eastbound into Nodales by Howe Island while the A36’s are still in upper Nodales.

August 9:

6 pm The A8’s are Westbound heading up Johnstone Strait by Turn Island, while the A36’s are heading East towards Hall Point in Nodales Channel.

August 8:

7 am The A23’s and A25’s are Eastbound down Johnstone Strait at Naka Creek.

11:32 am The A23’s and A25’s are still Eastbound down by Hickey Point.

11:57 am Correction in identification: it’s the A8’s and the A36 brothers. At one point it was pretty neat to see that the two A36 brothers, A37 and A46 were running side by side with the big male A66 of the A8’s as if they were the three brothers from a few years ago.

August 8:

12:50 pm A8’s and A36’s are between Kelsey Bay and Earl’s Ledge. The 36’s headed towards Earl’s Ledge while the A8’s continued down the Vancouver Island shore towards Race Passage.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 8:

12:51 pm I managed to get to see the A8’s and A36’s as they continued past Helmken Island down through Race Passage and past Camp Point.

1:58 pm They were moving quickly with the tide. All past Camp Point with purpose making it to Bear Point by 2:46 pm.

August 8:

3:41 The Orca are now still Easting past Ripple Point.

August 8:

4:39 pm The A36 boys are in the lead by Howe Island, Nodales with the A8’s 1 mile behind.

6:50 pm Left the A8’s Westbound by Harding Island, just below Thurston Bay Marine Park.

August 8:

6:21 pm Leaving the A36’s Eastbound again at Sonora Point.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 8:

6:45 pm A36 brothers are sleepily Eastbound at Sonora Point with 6 PWS Dolphins pestering them.

August 7:

12:30 pm Northern Resident Orca are spread out from Donegal Head to Penfold Islets and down to Whitecliffe Islets, just above Blackfish Sound.

August 14:

1:28 pm Transient Orca in Calm Channel by Rendezvous Islands angling towards Hole in the Wall.

August 14:

2:13 pm Same groups as yesterday, T101’s and T90’s just inside Bute Inlet by Fawn Bluffs. They just took a Harbour Porpoise – flung it in the air.

Aaron Webber & Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching

August 14:

4 pm The Transients took another Harbour Porpoise just North of Fawn Bluff.

4:54 pm They’re now at Amor Point Northbound in Bute Inlet.

August 14:

4:50 pm 8-ish Transients heading above Amor Point towards Clipper Point farther into Bute Inlet.

August 13:

10:23 am 4 to 5 Orca by Village Bay on the Quadra Island east side from boater.

11:51 am 6 Orca Southbound in Hoskyns Channel.

4:37 pm Left Transient Orca Northbound by Conville Bay, Hoskyns Channel.

August 13:

12:58 pm T101A has reunited with the rest of the T101’s and T102! The rest of them look like the T090’s and T100B’s. Nice gang, all tight together, going South along Rebecca Spit.

3:54 pm The Orca are abeam Viner Point heading back towards the Breton Islands.

4:10 pm Off village Bay heading up Hoskyns again.

4:55 pm Passing Conville point now still headed up Hoskyns; sleeping now.

7:35 pm Left Orca heading back down Hoskyns Channel after trying to make it through Surge Narrows / Beazley Pass.

August 12:

12:21 pm At least 2 Orca Northbound off Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.

August 12:

1:15 pm 4 Orca Southbound 2 of them running tight to shore by Myrtle Rocks.

August 12:

3:04 pm 4 Orca 2 large fins and 2 small fins off Mary Point, Cortez Island towards Twin Islands.

August 11:

8:28 am Orca reported at Middle Point just North of Campbell River from Sharkey.

12:25 pm T18’s are between Mitlenatch and Vancouver Island now Southbound.

2:25 pm The T02C’s are Southbound at the North end of Read Island. Looks like they’re going to take Whale Passage.

August 11:

10:44 am 3 Orca just North of Rendezvous Islands.

11:29 am Actually there are 4 of them and they’re headed towards Whiterock Passage.

August 11:

2:36 pm Leaving the Transients Southbound in Whale Passage. They’re doing long dives on the Read Island shore.

August 11:

3:40 pm Transients T02C’s are in Whale Pass.

August 11:

5:55 pm Just saw a pod 5 to 6 orca west of Sechelt between the Trail Islands and Sargent Bay. They were headed north west towards Thormanby Island. I will review my photos and send some to you when I can. From what I could tell there was one very large adult with a tall straight dorsal fin, several medium sized whales and one or two young ones. Sadly the whole experience was saddened by the idiot in the powerboat who decided to chase them for quite a long distance. I called the fisheries department on him!
Blair Smith

August 10:

8:02 am Orca reported Northbound by the green can buoy at the South end of Quadra Island.

10:40 am I’m with the Transients between Mitlenatch and Vancouver Island angling towards Baker Pass.

3:30 pm Transient Orca are at Grant’s Reef, off Savary Island, Southbound slowly. What a great Orca show!

August 10:

8:45 am Transients off the South end of Quadra have just been found by the Oak Bay Hurricane between the red and green can buoys heading towards the Vancouver Island shore. No numbers yet.

4:39 pm We are leaving the T’s at the South-East corner of Grant’s Reef aiming for Harwood Island.

August 10:

12:19 pm At least 6 Transients with 3 big fins – 1 huge male Eastbound at the Sophia Islands, top of Johnstone Strait.

1 pm Transients are T18’s, T19’s and T2C’s (ID’d by Jared Towers). They are currently in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve Eastbound.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 10:

12:44 pm Transients now off Manson Pass between Savary and Hernando Islands.

Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 10:

3:30 pm Transients at Grant’s Reef, off Savary Island, Southbound.

August 9:

11:53 am 5 to 7 Transient Bigg’s Orca in Hoskyns Channel Northbound heading towards Beazley Pass.

August 9:

12:55 pm Orca Northbound in Surge Narrows.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 9:

2:30 pm Left Transients Eastbound by Cyrus Rock in Okisollo Channel.

August 8:

1 pm 3 Orca are between the red and green can buoys at the South end of Quadra Island. There’s 1 big male. From water taxi.

August 8:

4:30 pm 3 Transients are now Northbound in Whale Passage heading towards Rendezvous.

August 7:

10:30 am Orca not far off Refuge Cove angling towards Waddington Channel.

August 7:

10:37 am Report of Transients in Waddington Channel, right in Desolation Sound.

12:43 pm The T’s were found at Shirley Point in Waddington Channel. It’s near the top of the channel just below Doctor Bay. They are Southbound.

6:06 to 7:36 pm Killer Whales are just off Cape Mudge. There’s T101A, T090’s and others about 3 miles South of Cape Mudge, but Northbound.

August 7:

12 pm Transients currently Southbound by Pendrel Sound, Desolation Sound.

2 pm Transients reportedly off Roscoe Bay, Desolation Sound.

August 7:

1 pm Transient Bigg’s Orca spotted in Tribune Channel, top end of Johnstone Strait.

August 7:

1:59 pm The Bigg’s are just coming out the South end of Waddington Channel, Desolation Sound.

August 7:

3:16 pm Orca spotted at Martin Island angling for Sara Point, just above the Copeland Islands. From my friends at Refuge Cove.

6:04 pm Just got to the Orca off Cape Mudge; T101A, T090’s and others Northbound 3 miles South of Cape Mudge. T101A is a big flirty boy, hanging with one specific female.

The photos left do doubt about what they were eating….Harbour Porpoise. They’re efficient hunters. I watched T090 go out about 400 meters ahead and on her own, catch a Porpoise and bring it back for the juveniles that were all bunched up waiting.

August 7:

3:25 pm Orca (unclear if these were the same ones or another group – SM) are between the green can buoy off Cape Mudge and Mitlenatch.

August 7:

4:20 pm 6 Orca are between the red can buoy and Cape Mudge heading North.

August 7:

5 pm Transients are by Storey’s Beach South of Campbell River.

August 6: (rec’d 12^th)

We sighted a pod or orca’s just outside of Bucaneer Bay on Thormanby Island off the Sunshine Coast on August 06, 2013. They appeared to be heading up the Coast but in turn went around Thormanby Island where they were circling a group of seals on a rock bed and blowing large bubbles under the water believed to be feeding on hearing. There were 5 of them, 1 VERY large, 2 quit big and 2 wee ones. Just amazing …

August 11:

7:30 am Humpback Whale Northbound off Atrevida Reef, Powell River angling towards Lund.

August 10:

11:26 am Small Humpback Whale Northbound by Quathiaski Cove, Campbell River area.

August 10:

12:44 pm Humpback Whale at Seymour Narrows getting pushed back by the tide.

August 8:

11:15 am Humpback Whale is Southbound by Steep Island.

August 8:

11:32 am Humpback is now off the rocks at RowRow; a local name of an old fishing spot just North of Quathiaski Cove.

11:57 am Humpback is now off the cruise ship dock by Campbell River.

Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 7:

8:38 am There was a report of a Humpback Whale by the Campbell River to Quadra Island ferry crossing – went to look, but couldn’t locate it.

August 14:

8:57 pm Dolphins in Denham Bay Southbound.

August 14:

10:45 am Large group of Dolphins spread from Gomer Island Frederick Arm to Hall Point.

12-1 pm Dolphins putting on a nice show.

5 pm PWS Dolphins between Davis Point and Harding Island, Nodales Channel.

August 14:

5:31 pm PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel at Harding Island.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 13:

4:37 pm 50 PWS Dolphins by Davis Point, Nodales Ch. Eastbound.

August 12:

8:15 am 30 PWS Dolphins Northbound through the Yuculta Rapids in front of Sonora Lodge.

9:15 am Multiple reports of PWS Dolphins spread out in Nodales and Gomer Island at the entrance to Frederick Arm to Denham Bay towards the Yucultas.

12 pm PWS Dolphins in Eastern Nodales Channel.

August 12:

4:24 pm 20 to 30 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. Rounding corner….make that 100+ Dolphins!

August 11:

1:34 pm 2 or 3 PWS Dolphins were escorting A60 plus 2 other Orca Westbound at Camp Point heading into Race Passage.

August 11:

10:39 am 50-ish PWS Dolphins at Horn Point just above the Yuculta’s

5:30 pm 50 to 75 PWS Dolphins near Shoal Bay towards Phillips Arm (just NW of Nodales Channel).

August 11:

12:30 pm Two groups of PWS Dolphins are foraging at the entrance to Frederick Arm and Hall Point one group has around 40 the other around 80 Dolphins.

5 pm 20+ PWS Dolphins in Okisollo Channel by Hole in the Wall.

5:25 pm Large group of PWS Dolphins in Phillips Arm.

August 11:

2 pm 12-15 PWS Dolphins chowing down by Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.

August 10:

7:45 am PWS Dolphins reported in Denham Bay by a fisherman.

1:30 pm 75 PWS Dolphins Southbound in Dent Rapids.

August 9:

4:17 pm 50 PWS Dolphins at Denham Bay.

August 8:

9:14 am 100 or so PWS Dolphins by Thurston Bay heading towards Davis Point; more by Sonora Point Southbound, and yet more by Denham Bay.

August 8:

11:15 am 150 PWS Dolphins are in Nodales Channel.

August 8:

6:45 pm 6 PWS Dolphins pestering the A36 Orca brothers who are sleepily Eastbound at Sonora Point.

August 8:

9:15 am Dolphins at Thurston Bay heading towards Davis Point, Nodales Ch.

12:20 pm 20 or so PWS Dolphins with the Orca in Nodales.

August 8:

5:30 pm 200 PWS Dolphins were Eastbound towards the Yuculta Rapids near Denham Island.

August 7:

10:37 am 100 PWS Dolphins right by Chatham Point spread across to Howe Isl.

August 7:

12:30 pm 8-10 PWS Dolphins foraging by Churchhouse, Stewart Island.

2:30 pm 24 PWS Dolphins by Dent Rapids with a bunch more by Thurston Bay.

August 7:

4:20 pm 100 or so PWS Dolphins are playing around in Dent Rapids.

5:28 pm They came out of Nodales and headed to Green Sea Bay above Campbell River and all 100 or so were back and forth to Chatham Point.

August 7:

7:39 pm 24 PWS Dolphins foraging at Dent Rapids Northbound.

August 14:

?? time Was out about two Kms in front of Roberts Creek on a very calm evening.
Heard some puffing then 2-3 harbour porpoises cruised by me. Pretty shy guys.
Geordie Harrower

August 14:

?? am There were about 6 Dall’s Porpoise near Horn Bay, across from Denham Island.

August 14:

10:30 am around 12 Dall’s Porpoise in Denham Bay with a few Dolphins also.

August 14:

2:13 pm Same groups as yesterday, T101’s and T90’s just inside Bute Inlet by Fawn Bluffs. They just took a Harbour Porpoise – flung it in the air.

Aaron Webber & Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching

August 14:

2:26 pm Heard over the radio that after they had tossed one Harbour Porpoise around there were another two that just floated on the surface close to Elvis’ boat; probably very exhausted and catching their breath.

August 14:

4 pm The Transients took another Harbour Porpoise (he was lunch) just North of Fawn Bluff.

August 8:

10:20 am Small group of Harbour Porpoise at Orange Point in Discovery Passage.

11 am Couple of Harbour Porpoise at the entrance to Bute Inlet.

Enormous thanks to those who helped and those who wanted to help when I injured my finger: Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursionswas instrumental in making things work right off the bat and truly stands out; co-ordinating the effort to get me from Port Neville into hospital and getting me back to Kelsey Bay, then keeping tabs on my crossing back to Port Neville; getting the caretaker, Chet, to check on me, and staying in close contact while I worked my way back down to Campbell River with the boat. I could write more, but you get the picture – huge help! Thank you Nick (and his bride to be Janeen).

I must also say thanks to everyone else:

Nick: you are tops on the list!

Geord & Geoff: thanks for waiting and helping out at Kelsey and driving me to Campbell River hospital; thanks also for being willing to cross and get me if it came down to it.

Garry: thanks for the texts

Jen: thanks for the calls

Jos: thanks for the dock space (& the wine)

Aaron (Webber): thanks for the use of your car – huge help

Everyone: thanks for the well wishes and other offers of help and support, and:

Elvis: thanks for the fish 🙂