Transient Bigg’s Orca, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise
This is a very long and delayed Cetacean Sightings report. This delay is due to the operation to repair the damage, sustained in August, to my very dominant right hand. It was not expected to be dealt with so quickly after my meeting the surgeon, so everything dealing with typing and hand function was put on hold until it became somewhat workable again. Lynne Cracknell has worked at getting much of the typing done, which is a huge help. Thank you for bearing with the delays.
I do hope everyone had a great Canadian Thanksgiving!
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?
Every sighting report is valuable
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
T02C2 with Scoliosis of the Spine
October 14, 2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 14:
12:17 pm Orca at Sonora Point with Leif. No numbers or direction as of yet. We are at Cortes Bell Buoy and on our way.
3:00 pm We have left the T002’s northwest bound through Green Points. They had a successful seal hunt off of Bickley Bay, just west of Shoal Bay on East Thurlow. We found and picked up the perfectly excised Harbour Seal – lungs and heart still attached.
9 pm It all happened so fast and it had no dorsal, so I assumed it was a seal. It was actually a Harbour Porpoise!
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 14:
12:20 pm 4 Orca at Sonora Point mid channel. They were moving around in big circles but are now headed towards John’s Point, south end of East Thurlow Island, heading into Cordero Northbound.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 13:
8:50 am Orcas near Cape Mudge lighthouse are identified as the T002’s, and are moving slowly northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Orca by Cape Mudge Lighthouse
October 13, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 13:
12:59 pm T002’s are still northbound along Quadra shore, coming up to April Point.
2:49 pm Leaving T002’s finishing kill at Copper Bluffs, on Quadra. Lots of surface activity and gulls looking for leftovers!
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 10:
1:02 pm 6 Orca at Brown’s Bay, travelling north.
1:20 pm Orca sighted by Separation Head, heading north towards Nodales Channel.
(Radio )
October 10:
2:30 pm 5 Orca by Fawn Bluff, heading in towards Bute Inlet. They are identified as the T101’s and T102’s. Making long dives!
3:20 pm Have just left the Orca slightly north of Fawn Bluff, they are northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 10:
3:10 pm Orca at Elk Bay, northbound.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
T02C3 Breaching
October 14, 2013
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
October 7:
10:10 am Orca sighted off Grief Point, near Powell River, reportedly throwing seals around! No direction or numbers given. Friend called me about it.
Michael Stewart, Powell River
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ATTACK HUMPBACK CALF
* A Painter’s Lodge fishing guide reported that he was watching a mother and calf Humpback in Menzies Bay on September 15 when 8 transient Orca came right into the bay and attempted to attack the calf. The attack went on for 5 or 6 minutes until the Humpbacks managed to get out of the bay. The guide did not follow the whales, so what happened after that is unknown.
Message from Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Humpback Whales
October 5, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 13:
11 am Seen 1 adult and 2 or 3 smaller what looked like Humpback whales off of Hardy Island, Malaspina Strait, this morning about 11:00 am. Beautiful! they where just playing around for about 1/2 hr.
Derek Parkin, Sunshine Coast
October 13:
9.30pm – 10.00 pm Humpbacks blowing in the moonlight at Lang Bay, Powell River.
Robert Maitland, Powell River
October 13:
10 o’clock and just about asleep when I heard unusual noises outside. Could it have been whales?. It sounded like a blow coming from about 1000 meters offshore. Many repeated noises but no visible water disturbance. Moonlit night with no swell close to shore????. (This is under the Humpback Whale reports due to the number of reports including sightings in the moon light – SM)
Michael Stewart, Powell River
Michael Stewart, Powell River
October 13:
11 pm A Humpback right out in front of our place, Albion (Black) Point area slowly heading South. First we heard this huge blow and then saw it in the moonlight – pretty darned nice!
Bill and Sarah Taylor, Powell River
October 12:
2:00 pm Two Humpbacks under the transmission lines close to the Saltery Bay Ferry terminal. They were just lazing about. The Captain announced it.
Allan Knowles, Sechelt
October 11:
Shortly after 3:15 pm 3 Humpback Whales were reported by the ferry Captain just off Comox / Little River. Didn’t get a chance to take a photo since we were caught up in the moment when we saw two of them breach almost at the same time.
Adam Taylor, Powell River
October 11:
3:30 pm Three Humpbacks sighted from the Comox Ferry just off Little River. Missed the double breach!
3:56 pm Another Humpback sighted off the north west tip of Texada Island, still on the ferry route.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
October 10:
4:19 pm Humpback southbound at Stuart Island, on the east side of Sonora Island.
4: 27 pm Humpback southbound still at Kelsey Point, near Yuculta Rapids.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 9:
9:34 am There is a Humpback at the mouth of Okisollo Channel, looks like it is heading out into Discovery Passage. Actually, now it is foraging at Mink Rock.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 8:
9:52 am Looks like 2 Humpbacks moving eastbound in Nodales Channel by Young Passage. Correction: Make that 1 Humpback.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 7:
10:09 am 2 Humpbacks just sort of milling around off Vananda, Texada Island. They’re facing North and are a bit closer to the mine.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
October 7:
3 to 3:15 pm Humpback Whale looks like just one between Pam Rocks and Lion’s Bay in Howe Sound. Travelling North.
Caller did not leave her name. We’d like to give you credit so please leave your name.
Humpback Whale
October 5, 2013
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 6:
12:10 pm A Humpback whale identified as KC (Kelp Creature!) is foraging just north of Brown’s Bay, close to the Vancouver Island shore.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 6:
4:48 pm There are 2 Humpbacks at Hole in the Wall angling towards Okisollo Channel.
5:10 pm The Humpbacks have now moved over to the Quadra Island side and are westbound in Okisollo Channel.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 5:
4:50 pm There are 3 Humpbacks going into Nodales Channel from Discovery Channel. Two of them are on the Sonora Island side and the other one is moving along on the Thurlow Island side.
4:55 pm Have left the Humpbacks near Young Passage in Nodales. They are all heading east.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 5:
5:15 pm 3 Humpbacks near Davis Point now, on the Sonora Island side. Have left them still eastbound in Nodales Channel.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 4
9:44 am One Humpback swimming southbound and bucking against the tide by Separation Head, west side of Quadra Island.
12 pm Humpback Whale by Race Point, Seymour Narrows.
(Radio)
October 4
12:06 pm Humpback whale spotted foraging just off Brown’s Bay.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 4:
2:45 pm Humpback sighted in Kanish Bay and moving southbound. Looks like there might be more than one.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
October 4:
3:30 pm Couple Humpback Whales across from Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage just about at Separation Head.
3:50 pm Make that three Humpbacks, instead of two!
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 4:
3:40 pm There are 2 Humpbacks feeding in the Separation Head area near Quadra Island. Now there are 3 Humpys!
4:27 pm I’ve left two of them at Plumper Bay. The third one was at Seymour Narrows. The first two have now angled off towards Quadra island. The two Humpback that are together look like adults. Those are the ones that have angled towards Quadra.
There is yet another Humpback Whale at Orange Point, too, just south of the Campbell River Mill. Humpy Heaven!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
October 13, 2013
Steve Grover, Powell River
October 16:
6 pm 100-200 PWS Dolphins leaping all over the place between Powell River and Harwood Island. They’re slowly heading South. Lots of birds above them. Would be great to get out there, it’s so calm, but losing light for photos. (I watched till too dark – they were still out in front of Powell River – SM)
Steve Grover, Powell River
October 15:
4 pm + 100 or so PWS Dolphins came by this morning feeding on all the herring out in front then headed South. Now (4 pm) they’re back feeding and chasing fish and again slowly heading South. Seems to be lots of herring around.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
October 14:
3 – 3:45 pm Large pod of Whitesided Dolphins feeding about a mile out, just south of Myrtle Rocks at 3pm today. They were constantly changing direction North and South. There were a large flock of gulls in attendance and feeding on what the dolphins missed I guess . It was hard to estimate numbers because of the constant changes of direction. They were still there at 3:45 pm when we had to leave. With the fall sun hitting the water it was if they were swimming in liquid silver …Magic !
Wendy and John, Powell River
October 14:
4:25 pm 100 or so PWS Dolphins between Albion Point (also known as Black Point) and Myrtle Rocks, just south of Powell River. They are foraging and moving fast.
Liz Kennedy, Powell River
October 13:
11:45 am Large group of PWS Dolphins northbound from Powell River.
1:20 – 2 pm We saw about 50 PWS Dolphins in front of Westview for over 2 hours before they headed south near Grief Point and we lost sight of them. Here are a couple of images I got when they were closed to the shore. A small group of people were stopping their cars to take a look. The dolphins seemed to be finding food and the gulls were getting into the act too! You could hear them splashing from the shore which was very cool!
Steve Grover, Powell River.
October 13:
1:17 pm About 100 or more Southbound by Grief Point, Powell River……..likely PWS dolphins. (yes PWS Dolphins confirmed – SM)
Grant Rainsley, Powell River
October 13:
12:32 pm Couple of hundred PWS Dolphins feeding off Powell River.
(call)
October 12:
12:10 pm About 100 PWS Dolphins milling around off Separation Head.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 11:
11:50 am There are about 100 PWS Dolphins milling around at Sonora Point, in Nodales Channel.
1:32 pm About 100 PWS Dolphins off Mitlenatch Island.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
October 10:
9:20 am More than 100 PWS Dolphins spotted in Brown’s Bay, southbound.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale watching.
October 10:
1:02 pm 400 PWS Dolphins half a mile south of Brown’s Bay and heading north.
(Radio)
October 10:
2:40 pm 200-300 PWS Dolphins between Chatham Point and Greensea Bay, reported in by someone near Chatham Point.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 10:
4:20 pm 129 PWS Dolphins milling around at Granite Point, at the north west tip of Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 9:
9:34 am 150 PWS Dolphins in Kanish Bay, northbound.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 9:
12:36 pm 200 PWS Dolphins southbound in Kanish Bay, Quadra Island.
Geoff, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 9:
2:25 pm At least 100 PWS Dolphins travelling abreast in Kanish Bay, on the Quadra island side.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
October 9:
4:28 pm PWS Dolphins sighted in Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage. These are the same groups as the ones seen earlier, I think.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 8:
9:52 am 194 PWS Dolphins in Nodales Channel. They are foraging around in the Hemming Bay area.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
October 8:
3:00 pm PWS Dolphins all the way from Sonora Point to Howe island, more than 750 of them!
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 7:
9:01 am 150 PWS Dolphins southbound from Plumper Bay.
3:38 pm 120 PWS Dolphins sighted southbound in Kanish Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 6:
1:30 pm 100 PWS Dolphins at Davis Point, in Nodales Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
October 6:
1:30 pm I was kayaking about 1 km south of Porteau Cove, Howe Sound and saw about 100 PWS Dolphins heading towards Gambier and Bowen Islands. Very exciting!
(Emailed in by SS)
October 5:
3:28 pm 150 PWS Dolphins spotted heading southbound from Horn Point just above Yuculta rapids.
4:40 pm There are another 150 PWS Dolphins southbound now at 45 Point, south of Kanish Bay.
4:55 pm Upgrading that now to 400 PWS Dolphins!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 4:
11:45 am There has been a large group of PWS Dolphins reported off Frederick’s Arm, up at the top end of Nodales Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
October 4:
1:17 pm About 700 PWS Dolphins all spread out by Hall Point, Nodales Channel.
Radio
October 4:
2:45 pm 400 PWS Dolphins eastbound at Davis Point in Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
DALL’S PORPOISE
October 15:
3 pm 2 or 3 Dall’s Porpoise just in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 15:
Day: Lots of Dall’s Porpoise in Nodales Channel. (no time or actual numbers given)
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
October 12:
2:00 pm 4 Dall’s Porpoise in Okisollo Channel, westbound near the upper rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 4:
3:15 pm 6 Dall’s Porpoise foraging by Bjerre Rock in Okisollo Channel.
Radio
HARBOUR PORPOISE
October 13:
3:59 pm 4 Harbour Porpoise milling about at Venture point in Okisollo Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Links to Couple of YouTube Video Clips
Small boat running into Humpback Whale Feb. 14, 2013:
This video is taken from shore on Galiano Island (between Vancouver Island and the mainland, British Columbia) Sunday 1st Sept 2013.Submitted by Lita Barnes: (Proof of how people on shore can actually see whales and report their sightings – SM)
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.
SusanMacKay is the founder of Whales and Dolphins BC and is the President of the non-profit WildOcean Whale 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?
Every sighting report is valuable!
Whales and Dolphins BC is officially the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
One Response
It's 23 October, but the last reported sighting is from the 16th. This could be a great blog if it was updated more regularly. Also, subscribing to the latest posts via e-mail does not work. We would greatly appreciate if these issues were fixed.
Comments are closed.