Bigg’s Killer Whales, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Humpbacks and More Sightings
A couple of days of rough weather made sightings a bit more difficult, but when you have Pacific White Sided Dolphins in groups in the hundreds and up to 1000, or a Humpback breach, they are not to be missed! Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales have grouped up again briefly while the smaller Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise seem to be in hiding.
I am pleased to say this is the first of many reports compiled with the help of, and thanks to, Lynne Cracknell who has volunteered to assist with this on a regular basis.
On October 24th I will be giving a presentation and talk on Pinnipeds; Seals and Sealions. Details are at the bottom of the reports.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
Transient Bigg’s Orca
October 3, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
October 3:
1:09 pm Orcas off red can buoy south end of Quadra Island heading towards the mainland. Will let you know in a couple of minutes how many there are. There are a couple of big fins in the group. Five of them at least are jumping around like popcorn! About 12 Orca total.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 3:
1:36 pm Lots of Killer Whales, very spread out. Can’t count them all, but there are twenty at least.
1:55 pm All Northbound now, approaching the Cape Mudge Lighthouse. The group have split, I only have 8 at the lighthouse now. Leaving them still heading north at lighthouse.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 3:
3:36 pm 7 Orca are playing off Cape Mudge Village for the past 40 minutes, in front of Elvis’ old house (Elvis is one of our regular reporters – SM). There’s 1 big male in the group. There’s been breaching, spy hopping, head stands where I could see the white underside of the Orca tails, and general playful behaviour as they just hang around across from Hidden Harbour.
J.R. (name withheld by request), Campbell River
October 3:
3:40 pm Orca are still moving North, haven’t got as far as the village on Quadra Island yet. They are moving very slowly; they might be resting. The ones I am looking at don’t look like they are playing.
Laura, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 3:
4:33 pm Many Orcas, probably 20 or so, travelling Northbound at April Point, across from Campbell River.
5:20 pm T101’s and T102 for sure in the group. Superpod of transient Bigg’s approaching Steep Island, Discovery Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
October 3:
6:46 pm 12 Orca Northbound by McMullen Point, Campbell River.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 2:
7:30 am 4 Killer Whales Northbound by Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 2:
6:30 pm At least 4 Orca sighted Northbound by Myrtle Rocks, just South of Powell River. They were doing long dives against the Texada shore, by the mine then 2 popped up close in to shore. There’s at least one big male.
Jim Southern, Powell River
October 1:
12:00 pm Radio transmission report of possible Southbound Killer Whales in Plumper Cove. Probably in Seymour Narrows by now. No numbers and no response to request for more info.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 1:
1:01 pm Orca spotted Southbound by Maude Island, Seymour Narrows.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
September 30:
5:22 pm 5 – 10 Orca spotted moving Northbound off the Walcan Seafood Site, Campbell River.
Geoff, Discovery Marine Safaris.
September 30:
5:37 pm. Orca at Maude Island, Seymour Narrows, Northbound. Looked like T19B.
6:12 pm. About 7 Orca in total.
6:19 pm Leaving the Orca in Deepwater Bay, Northbound and tracking PWS Dolphins.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
September 30:
5:40 pm 2 Orca Northbound in Seymour Narrows.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
Transient Bigg’s Orca 2013
Showing the white underside of tail
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
UNIDENTIFIED ORCA
(Either Southern Resident or Transient Bigg’s)
September 19: (rec’d late)
12 pm 7 – 8 Orca It was low tide, calm waters. The Orca gathered at the South end of Samsun Narrows, started to proceed North one of the larger ones stayed on the side of Saltspring Island. The other groups were divided into two adults and a calf and another group of three to four adults. They proceeded to travel North across Maple Bay then appeared to cut across open water North of Vesuvius and the last we saw them they appeared to be heading to the North end of Saltspring.
Martin McDonald, Saltspring Island
HUMPBACK WHALES
October 3:
2:11 pm 3 Humpback Whales midway between Detwiller Point on Valdez Island and Thrasher Rock, in the Gulf Islands.
Colin, Pacific Yellowfin
September 29:
9:55 am Humpback Whale moving back and forth between Texada Island and Powell River. Been watching it for at least 10 minutes. I first noticed a huge splash, (breach – SM) even in the rough water; then saw the tail a few times. It looked big.
Leigh Stewart, Powell River
September 29:
10:20 am Saw Humpback Whale only once heading South into the bay just above VanAnda, Texada Island. Never did see flukes, just blow and back, but definitely a Humpback.
Steve Grover, Powell River
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
October 3:
9:57 am 30 PWS Dolphins milling around in Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
4:01 pm 301 or so PWS Dolphins at Point 45, just South of Kanish Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
October 3:
12:37 pm 300 PWS Dolphins widely distributed around Howe Island, at the entrance to Nodales.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 3:
3:36 pm 300 PWS Dolphins traveling South by Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 2:
8:50 am PWS Dolphins by Plumper Cove, Discovery Pass.
Radio
October 2:
9:14 am At least 100 PWS Dolphins traveling Northbound at 10 knots off McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
4:21 pm 200 PWS Dolphins at Point 45, south of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
October 1:
All Day: Lots and Lots of PWS Dolphins in Discovery Passage. From Fishermen talking.
Radio
September 30:
9:45 am 200 PWS Dolphins milling around in Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
4:58 pm 500 PWS Dolphins at Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
September 30:
5:14 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins North of Brown’s Bay, Southbound and foraging.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
September 29:
9:27 am 500 PWS Dolphins by Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
September 29:
1:42 pm Hundreds of PWS Dolphins at Seymour Narrows.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
September 29:
2:03 pm Fabian speaks the truth! Many many many heaps of PWS Dolphins in Seymour Narrows now.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
September 28:
10:00 am 20 PWS Dolphins Eastbound at Davis Point in Nodales Channel, leading us to 1001 PWS Dolphins between Sonora Point, Nodales Channel, John’s Point and Frederick’s Arm. It was dolphin soup!
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
September 28:
3:19 pm Lots! 500 PWS Dolphins sighted at Gomer Island at the entrance to Frederick’s Arm, top of Nodales Channel.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
September 27:
8 AM Saw a small number of dolphins off Mullen Point in Lang Bay, South of Powell River.
Michael Stewart, Powell River
Pacific White Sided Dolphin
2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours
DALL’S PORPOISE
October 2:
2:46 pm 7 Dall’s Porpoise spotted off Lawrence Point, Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bears Tours.
Presentation and Talk
Pinnipeds: Seals and Sealions
Malaspina Naturalist Club is an associate member of BC Nature. Everyone is welcome.
Thursday, October 24th– Doors open at 7:00 pm – Speaker begins at 7:30 pm
Trinity Hall, United Church, Powell River
Susan MacKay will be talking about Pinnipeds: the classification refers to the marine mammals that have front and rear flippers such as Seals, Sea Lions and Walrus. Of the 33 species globally, there are five species of Pinnipeds that frequent our local BC waters while a few of the others migrate through our waters, to and from their breeding grounds. While some of these are considered true seals, some are not. Apart from local species information, Susanwill talk about their cute and quirky behaviours as well as specifics of how they relate to nature’s balance in our oceans.
Susan MacKayis the founder of Whales and Dolphins BC and is the President of the non-profit Wild OceanWhale Society (WOWs). She is also a member of the Marine Mammal Response Network responding to injured dead or distressed marine mammals.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
Whales and Dolphins BC is officially the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
