Cetaceans Galore: Orca, Humpback, Minke, Dolphins and Porpoise

Orca, both Resident and Bigg’s as well as some unidentified Orca popping up everywhere, Humpback Whales breaching and lunge feeding, Pacific White Sided Dolphins in large groups, still only one Minke Whale to report and some Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise. Some fog was thrown in to make finding these animals harder, but also quite magical once found.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

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

Every sighting report is valuable

September 9:

12:52 pm 4 – 5 Orca in the Robson Bight Reserve Eastbound.

September 9:

2 pm Large group of Orca, the A34’s plus in Weynton Pass.

7:11 pm The I15’s have just entered Blackney Pass westbound into Blackfish Sound.

From early morning throughout the day the I15’s plus some others, possibly the A8’s spent their time close to and at the Eastern end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. There were a few PWS Dolphins harassing them.

September 6:

7:45 am 5 or 6 Orca Northbound at Brown’s Bay, above Campbell River.

September 6:

10:10 am A8’s are at Turn Island while the A36 boys are in Nodales Ch. By Davis Point.

September 6:

10:10 am A8’s at Chatham Point and Nodales. A36’s and dolphins in Nodales North of Davis Point.

September 6:

11 am Large group of Orca (the I15’s and A30’s) were being harassed by a number of PWS Dolphins by Forward Bay (above Port Neville & Kelsey Bay) as they headed West up Johnstone Strait.

12:30 pm They had made it up to Boat Bay, across from the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

3 pm They hadn’t moved much off Cracroft Point area.

September 6:

12:30 pm The A36 brothers were being harassed by some Dolphins by Chatham Point.

2:10 pm A36’s Westbound 1 mile East of Ripple Point.

September 6:

2:05 pm 8 plus Orca headed for Discovery Passage out of Okisollo Channel.

September 6:

2 pm Possibly A34’s at Chatham Point.

September 5:

8:42 am Orca reported at Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.

10:06 am Confirmation on the A36’s boys only. Foraging at Sonora Point about 500 meters apart.

4 pm A36’s Eastbound by Davis Point, Nodales Channel.

4:42 pm Other Resident Orca Westbound by Chatham Point with about 100 PWS Dolphins.

September 5:

12:08 pm A36 boys off Hall Point, Nodales Channel doing donuts.

3:26 pm 10 Orca Westbound by Harding Island, Nodales Channel.

September 5:

12:08 pm Orca Eastbound by Walkem Light. Must be the A8’s. We’re not with them, but just a report.

September 5:

6:15 pm A36 brothers foraging at Hall Point, Nodales Ch.

September 5:

6:21 pm A8’s are Southbound in Discovery Passage at Okisollo Channel.

Not noted, but photograped NRKWs in Weynton Pass. SM

September 4: In the Fog!

10:45 am Large group of Orca Eastbound from Cracroft Point to the Sophia Islands, Johnstone Strait. 11:30 am They had been Identified as the I15’s and A8’s and were still Eastbound by Boat Bay.

September 4:

12:25 pm A36 brothers Eastbound from Robson Bight.

2:54 pm A8’s and A36’s still Eastbound by Windy Point above Kelsey Bay.

September 4:

3:32 pm Orca still Eastbound by the East end of St. Vincent Bight, above Kelsey Bay.

4:10 pm Left A36’s Eastbound at Port Neville and A8’s Eastbound mid strait out from Port Neville.

September 10:

9:11 am Orca at Baker’s Pass by the red can marker off of Cortez Island – Richard has them.

September 10:

9:45 am 3+ Orca 1 mile off Stubbs Island playing with and hunting birds.

2:30 pm The 4 Transient Bigg’s were off of Leonard Rock close to Sointula still hunting, harassing and killing various water birds as they slowly headed West. They were ID’d as T38A / T35A / T35A1 and T35A2 by Jared Towers, Alert Bay

September 10:

12 pm 8 or possibly 9 Orca. T100’s plus are Southbound for Grant’s Reef off Savary Island chasing Common Murres again. They’re even with Manson Pass right now. There’s a big female in here with a real triangle shaped dorsal.

3 -4 More Orca just showed up off Savary Shoreline!

And More Again!! We’re up to 20 plus Orca now with the T101’s and T102.

At one point they had all split up then all came together again then separate once again.

3:09 pm Leaving 8 of the Orca including the T002C’s Southbound almost to Rebecca Rocks in front of Powell River.

September 10:

12 pm T101 and T102 at Mitlenatch Island.

12:42 pm Leaving 4 T’s Westbound by Mitlenatch Island.

September 10:

4:04 pm Leaving the Killer Whales Southbound off Texada heading towards Denman / Hornby Islands.

September 9:

7 am Orca reported Southbound in the Yuculta Rapids.

September 9:

9:34 am Orca in Okisollo Channel Westbound.

September 9:

9:34 am 4 possibly more Bigg’s Killer Whales (Richard with). One big fin Westbound out of Okisollo Channel approximately 1 mile East of Bjere Rock.

September 9:

12:02 pm Orca Southbound by Nixon Islands off Kanish Bay. Travelling a slow 1.1 knots.

September 9:

12:52 pm 8 – 10 Orca at the top end of Texada Island angling towards Harwood Island, Powell River.

September 9:

1:15 pm At least 3 Orca travelling west close inshore between Black Pt (Albion) and Myrtle Pt. …@ bottom of Fleury/ Whalen Rds 1:15pm Mon Sep/09/13

1:35…3 more, further out, appeared to be (briefly) investigating some excited fishermen’s boat. Travelling west quickly, but not as fast as first trio.

September 9:

1:30 pm 8 + Orca including one very big male Northbound from Albion Point foraging by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. 3 or maybe more Orca had passed earlier with one large male in the group.

September 9:

2 pm Group of Transients at the mouth of Greenway Sound.

September 9:

About 2:15 Sept. 9, about 5 orcas Northbound past the Beach Gardens at Grief Point……looked like one fairly large male in the group.

September 9:

2:10 pm Wanted to let you know that a pod of Orca came by Powell River this afternoon, September 9. I got a call from a friend, Niels Voss around 2:10 pm that Orca were northbound at Grief Point so I grabbed the camera and headed for the viewpoint. I counted 7 animals in 3 groups all moving north at a steady but leisurely pace. The farthest group of 2 ( 1 male 1 female ) were at least 1500 meters out and are seen in the attached photos against Harwood Island. The first group had 2 females and a juvenile that liked to pop out like a cork even though it was fairly large. The last group of 2 males came the closest to shore, about 250 meters out. I thought that they might be transients but I also photographed a large sea lion playing near the south harbour breakwater while they were passing. The sea lion seemed very unconcerned. What a beautiful afternoon to photograph Orca, you could actually hear them breathing quite well because there was no wind. When I left about 3:00 pm they were further from shore in line with the mill. Hope they hang around for a few days. (These are Bigg’s Killer Whales from the photos, but not 100% on the individuals probably T101’s/T102- SM)

September 9:

3:30 pm 4 Orca just North of Seymour Narrows Southbound on the mainland side (assuming Quadra side).

September 9:

4:22 pm Orca are apparently at Race Point heading South.

5:14 pm The T002C’s are way inside Gowland Harbour. Just went past 5 Harbour Porpoise 30 feet from them. Amazing, never seen Killer Whales in here, ever!

5:44 pm Leaving the T002C’s. WOW, what a sight. They went right through the small gap behind Gowland Island and along the docks at April Point! Leaving them now at Quathiaski Cove Southbound.

September 9:

6:09 pm Left the Orca near Cape Mudge.

September 9:

? pm 3 Orca known as the T10’s were spotted off Cracroft Point working their way up behind some PWS Dolphins. Once the dolphins realized that these were not the fish eating Northern Resident Orca they made a quick get away to the opposite side of Johnstone Strait. The T10’s weren’t interested in pursuing them or even hunting a couple of juicy Sea Lions, but continued West along the Hanson Island shore where they stopped to check out the Harbour Seal haulouts at the Stephenson Islets. At 6 pm they finished checking all the little islets and continued a shoreline search right through the narrow kelp laden passage separating the Pearse Islands to Pearse Pass. A short time later I spotted a mom and calf following the other 3. They took the Johnstone Strait side of Pearse Islands. We’re unsure of the identity of these trailing two.

September 8:

9:50 am Orca at Marina Island, off Cortez Island – Northbound.

12:48 pm Passing Viner Point heading for the Breton Islands, where there was some hanky panky going on.

7:51 pm Leaving the Orca Northbound by Walcan. Looks like only the T10’s now – didn’t see the others anywhere.

September 8:

10:44 am Confirmation of T10/T10B/T10C plus 3 females (possibly T124/T124D/T124E) right now off Coulter Bay, Cortez Island.

12:14 pm Leaving Killer Whales off Twin Bay, Reid Island. They’re heading South-West along the Reid Island shore for Viner Point.

6 pm Spoke with Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, Aboriginal Journeys who said the Bigg’s were in front of Tsadwaluten lodge on Quadra Island Northbound.

6:32 pm Picked up T10B/T10C and the younger female from the T124’s so far only the three, but the other three should be close by. They’re Northbound bucking the flood tide half mile South of the Campbell River fishing pier.

September 8:

4 pm Orca Southbound near Francisco Point, bottom of Quadra Island now.

September 8:

7:15 pm Orca Northbound by Sechelt. From a friend with waterfront property there.

September 7:

?am 3 Transient Bigg’s were passing Minstrel Island.

September 7:

4:16 pm 4 Orca at Rock Bay light Westbound.

September 7:

4:15 pm The T02C’s Westbound slowly back eddy to beck eddy coming up to the Walkem Island Light and 100+ PWS Dolphins running South FAST at Separation Head.

September 7:

6:15 pm T002C’s slowly Westbound at Ripple Point.

September 6:

11 am 2 Orca heading into Fife Sound.

September 6:

12:06 pm 2 Killer Whales West of Kelsey Bay Westbound along the Vancouver Island shore.

September 6:

12:25 pm 6 Orca known as the T37’s Westbound by Vansitaart Point near the Thurlow Island shore (below Kelsey Bay). Doing long 8 minute dives.

September 6:

12:33 pm More Transient Bigg’s in Okisollo Channel. (these may have been NRKWs – SM)

September 6:

12:30 pm 4-5 Killer Whales Eastbound from Staples Island (Port Hardy). The big male has a definite lean to port side of his dorsal. 1 pm The ID’s are confirmed to be T18’s and T19’s.

September 6:

2:44 pm Unconfirmed report of Orca by Rendezvous Islands heading into Bute Inlet.

September 7:

10:35 am Orcas off Plumper Bay, Campbell River area Northbound.

1:24 pm Mystery 6 Orca at Greensea Bay Northbound.

September 7:

1:53 pm Same 6 Orca now just South of Chatham Point on the Vancouver Island side.

September 7:

4 pm 12 Orca in Collingwood Channel by Bowen Island south bound.

September 7:

Around 7:30 pm this evening (Sep 07), there were two whales swimming together just inside the reef at high tide. The attached photo captures one of them. We spotted them from our front deck, and we live on the south side of Savary, mid-island, at 1900 Vancouver Blvd. Unfortunately, some people in a boat were following them the entire time they were in view.

September 6:

2:45 pm 3 Orca by Adam River, Kelsey Bay area Westbound along the Vancouver Island shore.

September 6:

4:45 pm 3 Orca including 1 big male came along the Johnstone Strait side of Yorke Island close to shore then turned back up close to shore then around the front of Yorke Island and over the Sunderland Channel side of Yorke. (These were most likely Transient Bigg’s – SM)

September 6:

6 pm While on a fishing trip we saw 4 Orca, 1 big male, 1 larger female and 2 smaller females Eastbound by Washer Rock off Friendly Cove on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. They appeared to be playing there for around 15 minutes. This is the first time seeing Orca around here in a very long time.

September 4: In the Fog!

Early morning: Orca Eastbound by Telegraph Cove.

9 am Orca by Kaikash Creek tight to shore Eastbound.

10 am Orca Eastbound by Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.

10:45 am Large group of Orca at entrance to Fife Sound angling towards Malcolm Island.

11:30 am Around 8 Orca heading from Bold Head to Donegal Head, Blackfish Sound.

September 10:

7 am Humpback Whale Northbound by Discovery Harbour Marina moving quickly.

Garry

September 10:

7:30 am Humpback Whale Southbound at Picnic Beach, Cape Mudge.

9:11 am The Humpback is near the tide rip at the lighthouse oposite Rockland Road.

September 10:

10:33 am Humpback heading North doing 6 minute dives by Quathiaski Cove.

September 10:

11:36 am Humpback whale photo was texted for ID confirmation. (Confirmed as ‘KC’ or ‘Kelp Creature’ who I commented was conspicuous by his absence at the upper Johnstone Strait area yesterday – SM) It’s ‘KC’ – Very cool! I’m getting better at HB ID’s. We left him Northbound at copper Bluffs cutting over to Duncan Bay, Campbell River.

September 8:

7:30 am Humpback Whale by Sonora Lodge’s dock Northbound.

September 8 & 9:

Throughout the days: Still numerous Humpbacks in the upper Johnstone Strait area. With all the leaping and lunge feeding going on, it’s frustrating to miss seeing the breaches, especially the full body out of water ones. There are some enormous splashes and thunderous sounds as these animals land though. In a one hour count on September 9^th from just drifting by Stubbs island, there were 8 different animals in view with only a mom and calf working together. Since some krill has moved in (it’s a bit later than usual) they seem to be more spread out. Of note, spotted the 9^th in the morning, is one known as ‘Yogi’ who made an appearance in the reports not too long ago, much farther down the coast! A few, conspicuous by their absence in the upper Johnstone Strait area are ‘KC’ (see 10^th) and ‘Ariel’ but may be the ones spotted farther down the coast recently. ‘Chunky’ was spotted a while back but not in the past week or so.

September 6:

3 pm 2 large Humpback Whales were lunge feeding between Mitchell Bay, Malcolm Island and Pearse Reefs.

September 5:

12:46 pm Humpback Whale by Campbell River pulp mill slowly Southbound.

September 5:

1:19 pm Humpback at Walcan, Campbell River no direction.

2:30 pm Leaving Humpback North side of Steep Island.

September 5:

1:19 pm Humpback by April Point, Campbell River breaching like mad!

September 5:

3:26 pm Humpback by Cape Mudge Village Southbound.

September 4: In the Fog!

9 am 2 Humpback Whales at the top end of Weynton Pass.

September 9:

9 am the Minke known as ‘Bolt’ has moved farther East and is by Cracroft Point foraging.

September 7:

4:15 pm One Minke (believe it to be ‘Bolt’) feeding off the bottom of Pearse Pass in the tide rips.

See also notes with NRKWs and Transient Bigg’s reports. They are not duplicated here.

September 10:

9 am 200 + PWS Dolphins foraging in and out of Baronet Pass by Cracroft point.

September 10:

10:03 am 100 PWS Dolphins at Yellow Island milling back and forth towards Walcan, Campbell River.

September 10:

12 pm PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.

September 10:

4:40 pm Left the PWS Dolphins milling at Greensea Bay.

September 9:

9 am 300-400 PWS Dolphins close to Cracroft Point, top of Johnstone Strait. Foraging back and forth then headed towards Blinkhorn and spread between Vancouver Island and Hanson Island.

September 8:

9 am 200 – 300 PWS Dolphins foraging in Parsons Bay, Blackfish Sound.

September 8:

9:30 am 50 PWS Dolphins at Race Point area.

September 8:

1:31 pm 100 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. By 1:52 pm they were approaching Gomer Island at the mouth of Frederick’s.

September 8:

6 pm PWS Dolphins at Deepwater Bay.

September 8:

6:32 pm PWS Dolphins heading West at Hall Point Nodales Ch.

September 8:

Approx 100 pacific white sided dolphins came from between Hardwicke and Yorke Bot islands and then crossed Johnstone Straight towards Vancouver Island, continuing “up” Johnstone Straight on the Vancouver Island side of the channel until out of sight.

Ross

September 7:

11 am 10 PWS Dolphins milling in Plumper Bay, Campbell River area.

September 7:

12:30 pm 200 + PWS Dolphins Westbound in Blackfish Sound.

September 7:

3:14 pm 100 PWS Dolphins spread from Okisollo Channel to Discovery Passage.

September 7:

3:14 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Okisollo.

September 7:

4 pm 100 PWS Dolphins milling at Greensea Bay.

September 7:

4:15 pm 100+ PWS Dolphins running South FAST at Separation Head to get away from the Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales.

September 7:

6:30 pm I left the large group of PWS Dolphins heading toward Copper Bluffs, Campbell River…foraging behaviour.

September 6:

10:10 am 200 PWS Dolphins foraging by Harding Island, Nodales Channel.

4 pm 100 PWS Dolphins milling by Greensea Bay.

September 6:

5:30 pm Same 100 PWS Dolphins in front of Okisollo Channel.

September 6:

11 am 200 + PWS Dolphins including some very small calves were frolicking and harassing NRKWs by Forward Bay.

September 6:

12:08 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins mid channel just East of Adam River, Kelsey Bay.

12:47 pm More Dolphins West of Adam River.

2:33 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins still Westbound just West of Adam River, Kelsey Bay.

September 5:

4:42 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Westbound by Chatham Point with some NRKWs.

September 4: In the Fog!

9 am 200-300 PWS Dolphins Eastbound by Izumi Rock.

September 4:

10:45 am Around 300 PWS Dolphins by Cracroft Point

September 4:

5:10 pm 8 – 10 PWS Dolphins Southbound by Brown’s Bay.

September 9:

9:53 am 3 Harbour Porpoise in Bute Inlet.

September 9:

3:20 pm 8 – 10 frisky Dall’s Porpoise by Johnston Bluff, Bute Inlet.

September 7:

6:45 pm 12 playful Dall’s Porpoise at Hall Point, Nodales Ch.

September 6:

3:44 pm 4 Dall’s Porpoise on the West side of Aran Rapids at the entrance to Bute Inlet.