Sightings – Seven Cetacean Species !

Report delayed due to being in and out of internet range. Apologies for the delay.

This report covers 7 species: Northern Resident Orca, Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoise, a few Harbour Porpoise and a Minke Whale. There’s also a brief Rescue story and photo below.

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September 3:

10 am – 12 pm A8’s and A30’s are at the Eastern end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve heading East down Johnstone Strait.

September 3:

12:11 pm 10 – 20 NRKWs just North of Adam River (Kelsey Bay) Eastbound along the Vancouver Island shoreline.

2:11 pm Same group of Orca are around Windy Point by the boat wreck on the Vancouver Island shore. They’re Eastbound.

September 3:

2:49 pm 10-20 Orca off Stimpson’s Reef, Johnstone Strait. (assumed to be NRKW – SM)

3 pm 5-6 Orca spotted through the fog Westbound off Kaikash Creek. (assumed to be NRKW – SM)

September 3:

4:45 pm A8’s just entered the West end of the Reserve Eastbound.

September 3:

4:45 pm A30’s Westbound on Mainland side of Strait by Eve River.

September 2:

12 pm NRKW’s off Telegraph Cove; possibly A8’s.

4 pm Some Orca were just off the Stephanson Islets in Weynton Pass then headed back to Beaver Cove and later down Johnstone Strait.

September 1:

Around 12 pm Went to Cracroft Point, top of Johnstone Strait after stopping to watch the Humpbacks (Denali and another) by Whitebeach Pass in Blackfish Sound to find yet another Humpback resting in the tide rip and the A30’s foraging while the I15’s were across Johnstone Strait Eastbound by Kaikash and Sophia Islands. A few Dall’s Porpoise and Pacific White Sided Dolphins came in to harass the Orca.

August 31:

5:17 pm I15’s and A30’s are Westbound in Blackney Pass.

August 30:

9 am I15’s are Eastbound by Izumi Rock heading towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The A8’s and A30’s are missing and may have gone East down Johnstone Strait.

August 29:

8 am A30’s are Eastbound by Hanson Island.

9 am I15’s just East of Robson Bight Ecological Reserve Eastbound.

10:30 am I15’s Eastbound by Port Neville.

August 29:

10:48 am Orca Eastbound by Millie Island, Port Neville,

1:36 pm The I15’s are still Eastbound now by Peterson light, just below Kelsey Bay.

3:30 pm Orca are still only by Camp Point, below Helmken Island.

August 28:

9 am Some NRKW’s are Westbound by Robson Bight while some others are Eastbound by Lizard Point, Malcolm Island.

10 am A8’s and A30’s are off of Cracroft Point, Blackney Pass.

A36 brothers were with the I15’s off Bold Head, top of Blackfish Sound.

4:18 pm NRKWs spread out between Blinkhorn, close to Telegraph Cove to Hanson Island.

August 27:

7:15 am Orca at Rock Bay Westbound.

August 27:

7:30 am Some Orca South of Cracroft Point, top of Johnstone Strait Eastbound.

9 am A66, A60 and A61 + (possibly all A34’s) have gone into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

August 27:

8:26 am Orca Eastbound into Nodales Channel.

August 27:

8:57 am Sounds very much like the A30’s – 10-12 Killer Whales with a couple of big dorsals travelling ahead of the main bunch.

3:17 pm we just left the A30’s Westbound in Nodales Channel coming up to Davis Point. We were on scene at 12:30 pm as they were slowly shuffling into Frederick’s Arm. A38 was 1 mile to West of main pod. A39 was in with the family. They shuffled half mile into Frederick’s then approximately 1:45 pm they turned to the West and grouped up with some breaches, tail lobs and pec slaps from the brothers.

August 27:

10:10 am A30’s in Nodales Channel. Left them Eastbound by Harding Island.

4:14 pm Leaving Orca Westbound approaching Howe Island, Nodales Channel.

August 27:

12:40 pm Orca in Nodales Channel at Sonora Point still Eastbound – presumably the A30’s. Relayed from Jos.

August 27:

3:20 pm The A23’s, A25’s and A8’s are all Westbound in Blackfish Sound.

August 26:

8:17 am Sounds like a big mob of Orca around Rock Bay, Chatham Point area – no direction.

10:37 am Some of the Orca are at Camp Point in Johnstone Strait while some are at Sonora Point in Nodales Channel.

3:10 pm The A30’s are Westbound by Harding Island near the bottom of Nodales Channel.

August 26:

8:15 am Orca at Greensea Bay, Howe Island / Chatham Point area. Unconfirmed report.

8:22 am 25 – 30 Orca between Rock Bay and Greensea Bay.

August 26:

8:20 am 25 Orca at Greensea Bay.

11:29 am 6 Orca Westbound by Kelsey Bay – Just leaving them.

August 26:

4 pm I15’s Eastbound down Blackfish Sound stopped to harass Humpback Whales that are in abundance. A8’s, A23’a and A25’s may be the ones down East.

August 26:

4:34 pm 12 to 13 Killer Whales spread out here from Howe Island to Chatham Point. It’s the A30’s plus others and they are all still Westbound.

August 26:

5:30 pm Left the same 12-ish Orca (A30’s plus) still Westbound slowly and foraging at Rock Bay.

August 25:

7:45 pm Saw everyone pass Ripple Point. All were around and spread between Ripple and Walkem Islands. A8’s were in the lead, followed by the A23’s and A25’s the the A30’s and others, possibly the I’s, but no ID’s, trailing. What an awesome night…best one yet. They all went into Nodales Channel – like a freight train. The A8’s were doing 10 knots in the lead.

September 3:

8:45 am 6 Orca Northbound by Walcan, Copper Bluff area, Campbell River heading for Seymour Narrows.

September 3:

Approx. 9:30 am Had the T19 gang by Deepwater Bay heading North-West. Only stayed with them for 15 minutes en-route to Grizzly tour.

September 3:

12:11 pm Leaving the T19’s at Rock Bay Westbound on the Vancouver Island side.

September 3:

3:02 pm 2 Orca in Race Passage Westbound. (assumed to be Bigg’s – SM)

September 3:

5:19 pm Transients at Kelsey Bay half mile from the the milling 300 plus PWS Dolphins slowly Westbound.

September 2:

12 pm 5 Transient Bigg’s Westbound in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.

September 2:

5 pm 3 Killer Whales heading South very slowly about 200 feet off the Powell River Seawall. My husband and I were walking the sea wall and saw 2 large and one small dorsals.

September 2:

6:30 pm Hi Susan. Am THRILLED to report my first sighting, lol! About 6:30 this evening (Monday,Sept.2nd) just off Myrtle Rocks, heading south. Three Orca. 1 large and two smaller.

Just swimming along, surfacing every few minutes and blowing a couple of times. Water was pretty calm so they were easy to see. Stood and watched for about 10-15 minutes, and then they were gone. Made my night!

September 2:

Orcas near Powell River late this afternoon. Saw a young one (Baby)? with adults. Hard to tell how many but not alot. They were heading south. Lost sight of them near the Beach Gardens Hotel.

September 2:

We spotted a pod of about five orca today … first from Craigdarroch Beach (north of Union Bay). They were as far out as Tree Island and were heading towards the Comox Harbour and Goose Spit area. There was one big, two medium and two small (as far as I can tell). We then saw them again from Goose Spit; they were headed back out towards the Georgia Strait; south and to the outside of Denman/Hornby. What a wonderful sight! We have been visiting this area for many years and have never seen orcas … today is a red letter day for sure!

September 1:

11:12 am Orca off Whaletown, Cortez Island – not sure what direction.

September 1:

11:39 am Orca are heading from the red can buoy through Uganda Pass, between Cortez and Marina Islands. Apparently they came through Uganda Pass by Shark Spit and are heading West along the Cortez Island shore towards Whaletown.

2:02 pm 5 Orca 1 nautical mile South-West of the Breton Islands aiming for Heriot Bay, Quadra Island.

3:05 pm 25 – 30 Transients just showed up off Mitlenatch Island to Cape Mudge!

September 1:

1:07 pm Transients just South of Subtle Islands in Sutil Channel.

September 1:

6:43 pm Group of Killer Whales at Cape Mudge right now – Jumping!

August 30:

6:30 pm 5 – 6 Orca between Dinner Rock and Atrevida Buoy right now. I’m watching them from my deck in Westview and count 5 to 6 animals displaying the usually transient feeding behavior, lunging, porpoising, tails lapping and separating into 2 small groups. This sighting was called in by my friend Rhondda Scheurers who is camping at Emmonds Beach. They have been watching them for a couple hours in the same location. I saw at least one large male and possibly two. It’s quite far away and I’m only able to see them with my spotting scope but we are enjoying the show nonetheless. No direction really, they just were moving Westward from the buoy for about 500 meters and then back towards the buoy about 30 minutes later. The next few times I looked ( about 20 & 30 minutes later) I couldn’t find them. Damn trees in the way. Wish they came closer but maybe tomorrow!

August 30:

7:30 am 4 – 5 Orca including 1 large male at Francisco Point, bottom of Quadra Island – no direction.

August 29:

3-3:20 pm 5 Orca Westbound off Savary Island’s SW side close in to shore. It’s windy and some rough seas so tough to see sometimes, but there’s 1 big male and 1 calf.

August 27:

6 pm Second hand report of Killer Whales at Dinner Rock / Atrevida Reef area.

August 26:

8 am 3 Orca heading Southbound past April Point, across from Campbell River.

August 26:

8:15 am 3 Transients are Southbound in front of the Campbell River fishing pier.

August 26:

9:46 am Left the T02’s heading South by Oyster River, south of Campbell River.

Every Day: Humpbacks Galore! Some of the ID’s are: Freckles, Domino, Argonaut, Marge, Slash (aka Humpless), Denali, Bubbles, and some I could not ID yet.

September 3:

1:26 pm 2 Humpback Whales in Weynton Pass feeding. Zero visibility in fog! Sounds like there are a couple of others by Bold Head, top of Blackfish Sound in the fog there too.

September 2:

8:30 am Humpback Whale by Greensea Bay.

September 2:

10 am Humpback Whale Southbound passing Okisollo Channel now in Discovery Pass.

September 2:

12 pm Sitting drifting at the top of Blackfish Sound close to Bold Head with 10 – 12 Humpback Whales spread out lunge feeding singly or in two’s. Heard there were others farther over towards Whitecliffe Islets as well as down by Cracroft Point.

4 pm At least 4 Humpback Whales including Argonaut at the top of Weynton Pass. Another big breach and some tail slapping from the calf.

September 1:

10:47 am Humpback Whale Eastbound by Kelsey Bay.

Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

September 1:

Around 12 pm Went to Cracroft Point, top of Johnstone Strait after stopping to watch the Humpbacks (Denali and another) by Whitebeach Pass in Blackfish Sound to find yet another Humpback resting in the tide rip and the A30’s foraging while the I15’s were across Johnstone Strait Eastbound by Kaikash and Sophia Islands.

August 30:

9 am Humpback Whales in Weynton Pass.

August 29:

8:20 am 2 Humpback Whales in Weynton Pass.

August 29:

10:30 am – 2:30 pm Out with 8 + Humpback Whales lunge feeding off Weynton Island and into Weynton Pass. One breach totally out of the water off Stubbs Island and another breach a bit later off the North-East corner of Stubbs Island.

August 28:

9 am Humpback Whales popping up all over the place from Hidden Cove, Vancouver Island to Bold Head, top of Blackfish Sound.

August 27:

7 am Humpback Whale in Pearse Pass feeding.

August 26:

4 pm I15’s Eastbound down Blackfish Sound stopped to harass Humpback Whales that are in abundance everywhere.

August 26:

4:25 pm Watched a Humpback pass West close to North Pearse Islands heading towards Pearse Pass to feed.

August 28:

10 am Minke Whale out in front of Alert Bay.

September 3:

1:02 pm 50+ PWS Dolphins by Denham Island just above Yuculta Rapids.

September 3:

3:02 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins West of Kelsey Bay Eastbound.

September 3:

5:19 pm Transients at Kelsey Bay half mile from the the milling 300 plus PWS Dolphins slowly Westbound.

September 2:

11:05 am Large group of PWS Dolphins in Chancellor Channel at the mouth of Loughborough Inlet – Northbound.

September 1:

9 am 300 PWS Dolphins Westbound from Sonora Point to Thurston Bay Marine Park.

September 1:

11 am 1000 or so PWS Dolphins by Port Neville, just up from Kelsey Bay and across Sunderland Channel.

3:25 pm Dolphins still Eastbound by Kelsey Bay.

September 1:

Around 2:30 pm We left the Orca and Humpbacks

August 31:

1:48 pm 100 PWS Dolphins in Frederick’s Arm foraging.

5:45 pm Same 100 PWS Dolphins now at Hall Point Nodales Channel.

September 1:

Around 2:30 pm a few Pacific White Sided Dolphins (maybe 6) travelled with around 15 or so Dall’s Porpoise after harassing Orca into Blackfish Sound foraging as they went across to the Hanson shore.

August 31:

4:30 pm Left PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm.

August 31:

5:38 pm 100 PWS Dolphins Eastbound past Boat Bay, top of Johnstone Strait.

August 30:

5:30 pm 75-ish PWS Dolphins at Hall Point, Nodales Channel. Previously they spent the day in Frederick Arm.

August 29:

8:45 am 1 lone Dolphin in Kanish Bay.

August 28:

11:53 am Hundreds of PWS Dolphins just North of Hardwicke Island, Kelsey Bay area.

2:49 pm Dolphins are still in the same area.

August 28:

4 pm There are at least 1500 PWS Dolphins just East of Hickey Point, West of Kelsey Bay. I’ve never seen so many at once!! Amazing!

August 26:

6:30 pm 500 or so PWS Dolphins close to Kelsey Bay Westbound.

September 3:

10 am 3 Dall’s Porpoise in Bute Inlet milling.

September 3:

1:50 pm 12 Dall’s Porpoise zipping around North end of Weynton Pass close to Stubbs Island.

September 2:

Hi there,saw a family of four Sun, Sept 1/2013 at Sidney Island. Mom, Dad and two youngsters.

Dena Scriven, Victoria

September 1:

Around 2:30 pm a few Pacific White Sided Dolphins (maybe 6) travelled with around 15 or so Dall’s Porpoise after harassing Orca into Blackfish Sound foraging as they went across to the Hanson shore.

August 31:

Afternoon: 3 Dall’s Porpoise bow rode briefly as we headed out and up Weynton Pass.

Late Evening: Couple of Harbour Porpoise heading towards Swanson Pass from Knight Inlet.

August 30:

3:15 pm 3 Dall’s Porpoise at Clipper Point, Bute Inlet.

August 28:

5:16 pm 4 Harbour Porpoise by Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet.

August 31:

While watching Humpback Whales Lunge feeding in Weynton Pass, we noticed something unusual moving in the tide line. Getting closer, this poor Seagull was struggling to lift it’s head out of the water for a breath. It was soaked and drowning. There is a chance that the bird got caught in one of the lunges and released under water – it was soaked through and through. Getting the skiff close I had Judy pick up the bird. It’s beak was chattering from the cold and body shivering horribly; suffering from hypothermia. We wrapped it in a towel and placed it on the front seat in the sunshine. Judy named it Clio as she put another towel on top to try to help it. The poor thing sat there shivering for around two hours and slowly came around as she/he dried. When we got back to Salt Wash, and were discussing that we’d get another dry towel, it decided to jump ship and paddled to shore, got up above the high tide mark and started to preen itself. One lucky bird!