Cetacean Sightings NRKWs, Transient Bigg’s, Humpacks, Dolphins and Porpoise

Dolphins by the hundreds, Northern Resident Orca travelling long distances up and down Johnstone Strait, a few Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales on the hunt, and Humpback Whales moving up to regular feeding grounds. Harbour Porpoise have been the main target of the Transient Bigg’s Orca these past few days.

Links: Winner of the Whale Watching Trip drawn during Powell River Sea Fair, Joan Bech has sent in a lovely comment and Youtube link to their time on the water. See below reports.

Since repair of the regular email feed has not worked so far, email subscribers will continue receiving these reports by clicking on a direct link to the page sent manually by email until it can be sorted out. Apologies for any inconvenience. Photos are back in these reports.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

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August 18:

12:08 Orca Eastbound 2 miles West off Hickey Point, above Kelsey Bay.

12:42 pm A8’s still Eastbound now below Hickey Point while the PWS Dolphins continued to the West.

1:53 pm A8’s turned towards the West and are between Yorke and Fanny Islands foraging.

August 18:

3:08 pm Left the A8’s Westbound by Jessie Island off Port Neville.

August 17:

11:01 am A5’s reportedly all in Robson Bight.

August 17:

6 pm A5’s currently at Kaikash Creek, top of Johnstone Strait Eastbound.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 16:

11:10 am Orca at Race Pass, below Kelsey Bay, heading East. With Jen.

August 16:

10:30 am Orca seen Southbound off Cordero Lodge.

Boater

August 16:

12 pm A23’s and A25’s Eastbound fast at 7.2 knots by Tyee Point, Johnstone Strait.

August 16:

12 pm A8’s just passing Shoal Bay.

By 12:41 pm the A8’s were foraging by Channe Island where Nodales and Cordero Channels meet.

3:04 pm A8’s are heading West by Chatham and Howe Islands toward the A23/25’s.

4:27 pm A23/25’s are now heading into Nodales Channel by Howe Island. The A8’s disappeared and my have just gone right past the others.

5:37 pm Humpback Whale and NRKWs A23’s and A25’s are at Davis Point in Nodales Channel.

August 16:

10:55 am Orca by Kelsey Bay.

1 pm A23/25’s Eastbound still by Bear Point.

1:43 pm Leaving the Orca near Ripple Point still Eastbound.

August 16:

5:18 pm the A8’s are approaching Bear Bight Westbound.

August 15:

10:24 am A8’s are Eastbound by Windy Point, Johnstone Strait at about 4-5 knots. Didn’t see the A36 brothers with them this time.

11:31 am Left the A8’s 1 mile East of Hickey Point still Eastbound along the Vancouver Island shoreline.

1:31 pm A8’s are now at Peterson Island just below Kelsey Bay still Eastbound at around 6 knots.

3 pm The Residents are currently Eastbound by Camp Point.

4 pm Left the Resident Orca still Eastbound half mile past Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 15:

5:54 pm A8’s are Eastbound still and now at Ripple Point.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 15:

4:40 pm the cruise ship MS Amsterdam encountered Orcas while southbound, 4:40 PM, about an hour before entering Seymour Narrows. There was a pod of six, and a lone male a bit farther off. Photos attached. I have more photos if you want, but there were the best ones. Another photo. I count 7 fins!

August 15:

8:15 pm A8’s are Eastbound into Nodales Channel.

August 18:

5:15 pm 4 Orca by Marina Island northbound – probably the T02C’s. Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures found them.

August 18:

7:14 pm The Transients are headed to the Breton Islands off Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island slowly.

August 15:

10:25 am Transient Bigg’s Orca found right at the entrance to Hole in the Wall.

10:49 am They’re by Florence Cove heading towards Okisollo Channel.

August 15:

1:30 pm Left the 8 Transients, T101’s, 102 and 90’s at the South end of Beazley Pass Southbound. Watching them go through Hole in the Wall was a magical moment.

August 15:

2:11 pm Leaving the Transients Southbound by Conville Bay, Hoskyns Channel doing 6 knots.

August 15:

3 pm Transients just left Hoskyns Rock and are angling southbound for Cape Mudge.

August 17:

8:34 am Humpback Whales just passed Ripple Point Northbound. From my buddy fishing.

12:18 pm The 3 Humpbacks are at the Hardwicke Island light just 2 miles East of Earl’s Ledge, across from Kelsey Bay. They’re beauties! Looks like the big one from yesterday and then a Mom and calf.

2:18 pm Humpbacks are right at Yorke Island.

2:49 pm Leaving Garry, Aboriginal Journeys in charge of the 3 Humpback Whales 1.5 miles East of Hickey Point going 3-5 knots to the West.

August 17:

9:17 am 2 Humpbacks at Vansitaart. Just spent about a half hour with two humpbacks at Vansittart point. Looks like a mother and calf.

August 17:

10:25 am 2 Humpback Whales at Tyee Point, below Race / Current Pass, travelling side by side Westbound.

August 17:

11:27 am 3 Humpback Whales at Camp Point.

August 17:

3:35 pm Left the 3 Humpback Whales mid channel by Port Neville Westbound at 3 knots.

August 16:

10:40 am Humpback Whale mid channel by Cape Mudge Northbound.

August 16:

10:48 am Humpback Whale in front of Hidden Harbour Northbound close to fishing pier, Campbell River.

12:41 The Humpback Whale is now by April Point still Northbound.

August 16:

1 pm I picked up the Humpback Whale just above April Point and managed to confirm that it was one that had spent the past number of weeks off Powell River. This large Humpback was running with the tide at around 5 knots, fast for a Humpback. By 1:43 pm he was off Race Point and I could still see the big blows as he took a direct line for Maude Island and Seymour Narrows.

August 16:

3:04 pm Humpback now by Brown’s Bay, "No Name Creek".

August 16:

3:55 pm Left the Humpback now at Elk Bay still Northbound.

August 16:

4:27 pm Humpback Whale is right by the Chatham Point light.

4:49 pm Humpback is heading into Nodales Channel on the Thurlow side (Orca there too).

Mark, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 16:

5:37 pm Humpback Whale and NRKWs A23’s and A25’s are at Davis Point in Nodales Channel.

August 14:

We had three close encounters with two Humpies yesterday Aug 14^th (in the San Juans). Big Momma, BCY0324, and this one, BCX1068. We call it Split Fluke. Do you get that one in your area too? (I do not recall seeing BCX1068 up here, but BCY0324 has been seen as far north-west as the top of Johnstone Strait – SM)

August 18:

9:30 am Large group PWS Dolphins by Owen Pt.

August 18:

10:34 am PWS Dolphins at Little Dent Island.

3:32 pm 100 or so PWS Dolphins at Horn Point, Nodales Channel.

August 18:

11:14 am PWS Dolphins at Hall Point, Nodales.

5:51 pm Dolphins still at Horn Point.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 18:

12:08 pm Hundred of PWS Dolphins just West of Kelsey Bay spread right across channel heading West.

August 18:

12:42 pm NRKWs A8’s still Eastbound now below Hickey Point while the PWS Dolphins continued to the West.

August 18:

2:29 pm PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay.

August 17:

9:17 am PWS Dolphins at Walkem Islands.

August 17:

9:55 am 150 PWS Dolphins at Chatham Point foraging.

August 17;

10:25 am PWS Dolphins foraging between Greensea Bay and Chatham Point – spread out.

August 17:

1:03 pm 150 PWS Dolphins are by Owen Point heading towards Frederick Arm.

August 17:

2:18 pm PWS Dolphins are now heading South in Cordero Channel heading towards Dent Islands.

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

August 17:

3:45 pm PWS Dolphins still foraging at Owen Point Frederick Arm.

August 17:

4:47 pm 60-80 PWS Dolphins all schooled up in Bessborough Bay, Sunderland Channel, foraging. Mostly Moms and calves and juveniles. Only a few adult males.

August 16:

9:07 am Group of PWS Dolphins off Davis Point, Nodales Channel.

August 16:

9:48 am 200 or so PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay. Eaglemaster has them.

11:30 am 200 PWS Dolphins Southbound in the fog by Little Dent Island heading towards Jimmy Judd, Gillard Pass.

5:37 pm PWS Dolphins are spread out from Channe Island to Shoal Bay.

August 16:

4:49 pm Large group PWS Dolphins at Owen Point, top of Nodales Channel.

August 16:

5:18 pm PWS Dolphins off Shoal Bay in Cordero Channel.

August 15:

7:55 am 200 PWS Dolphins are milling about in the fog by Thurston Bay, Nodales Channel.

7:55 am Another large group of Dolphins are at Denham Bay, by Dent Rapids.

10:24 am PWS Dolphins have now gone into Frederick Arm.

August 15:

2:32 pm Found the 150 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. They moved right to the head of the inlet. You could see the Estero Glacier at the same time. Nice.

August 15:

3:52 pm PWS Dolphins are still in Frederick Arm.

August 15:

4:30 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise foraging in Gowland Harbour, across from Campbell River.

August 15:

4:52 pm 4 Porpoise by Deepwater Bay, possibly cross breeds (Dall’s/Harbour Hybrid).

John, Discovery Marine Safaris

Winner of the Whale Watching Trip donated by Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, drawn during Powell River Sea Fair, Joan Bech has sent in a lovely comment and Youtube link to their time on the water:

Dear Susan and Garry,

Soren and I want to thank both of you for a wonderful journey and experience last Thursday. The opportunity to see these magnificent animals — both the orcas and dolphins — is truly special and something we will never forget. I’ve had the honour on more than one occasion to be called as a witness at different Aboriginal gatherings. The same holds true here. We have been privileged to witness these beautiful animals, and we are sharing our experience with others. Soren has put together a video from our many photos and filming throughout the day. We also wanted to recognize both of you.

We hope you enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdosP1jR8DU&feature=youtu.be

Warm regards,