Humpback Whales, Orca, Grey Whale, NRKWs and Porpoise

November 10:

11:46 am Large number 20+ of Orca spread out between Mitlenatch and Shelter Point, on Vancouver Island. Southbound?

November 10:

1 pm Number of splashes close to the Comox ferry terminal – based on the above report, there is a chance that it’s the whales, but too far away to tell for sure.

November 10:

1:26 pm There’s a number of Orca blows at Shelter Point….heading towards the fishing hump.

November 8:

No time given: Northern Resident Killer Whales were seen by Sooke off Vancouver Island. They were later identified as G-Pod. Information forwarded by;

November 11:

8:30-ish (rec’d 9:48 am) Breaching Humpback Whale at Sonora Point, Nodales Channel approximately an hour ago from a tugboat.

November 11:

10:30 am A very big Humpback Whale is heading towards Westview from Myrtle Rocks area of Powell River. It’s quite close to the mainland shore, surfacing for three breaths then down for a bit.

10:55 am It just rounded the Grief Point breakwater and may be moving out into Malaspina Strait a bit or more towards Texada Island.

November 11:

10:51 am We just saw a Humpback Whale going toward Powell River just past Myrtle Rocks.

Bob Brooks, Powell River

November 11:

11:15 am Easily picked up the Humpback Whale in the flat calm waters by the Grief Point marina shortly after getting out of Westview Harbour. The whale known as ‘Crescent’ or officially BCX1258 was doing the usual, not fluking (lifting the tail so a good ID photo could be taken) as it rounded Grief Point. With the ferry preparing to leave Powell River I tried to notify them to take care departing. They spotted the whale and took a wide, slow 12:15 pm departure. Crescent made his/her way to the Powell River Mill where a Sea Lion joined up around 1:30 pm as they worked some food. They travelled close together and maybe even a bit of play as they foraged Southbound close to the hulk breakwater and in towards Willingdon Beach. A number of people watched from shore. Once the Sea Lion was around, Crescent fluked a few times permitting the confirmation of identification.

2:40 pm Humpback ‘Crescent’ was angling towards Rebecca Rocks or the NW tip of Texada as we, my friend and member of Wild Ocean Whale Society, Judy and I, headed back to the harbour.

November 11:

10:25 am (rec’d call 12 pm) A Humpback Whale was tight into shore by Myrtle Rocks. Took a few breaths then disappeared. It was a big whale heading North.

November 11:

12:28 pm Just saw a Humpback Whale surface right out in front of Powell River. There’s a boat out there and it surfaced a ways in front of it. (The boat was us – SM). Unfortunately a tree got in the way of my view, but what a great sight!

November 11:

Approx. 1:30 pm (rec’d call 2:30 pm) We were out walking on the beach and saw what looked like possibly a mom and calf Humpback Whale just off the hulks and the Powell River mill. Definitely one Humpback. We watched from shore – pretty amazing. (The ‘calf’ was the sea lion surfacing which can look like a very small blow, in particular when it’s very calm – SM)

November 7:

4 pm Possible Humpback Whale at Willow Point, the end of Discovery Passage. It’s close to shore. From my brother-in-law again. I may head down to shoot it (photograph it, in case there’s any doubt – SM).

Few minutes later: Humpback for sure, smallish and non-fluker. Just passed the Pier Northbound mid channel.

November 5: (rec’d Nov. 6)

The MNats ran a trip from Saltery Bay up Jervis to Princess Louisa Inlet yesterday, Nov.5. Almost immediately, we saw a humpback whale at the mouth of Hotham Sound and watched it surface and dive for about an hour. However, we wondered if there were in fact two animals as they seemed to surface in different places. What do you think? (There is a possibility there were two or more, but the photos submitted were all of ‘Crescent’ the whale seen in Powell River November 11th – SM)

Grey Whale

November 5: (rec’d Nov. 7)

7:30 – 8 am a large baleen whale surfaced very close to shore. We are one kilometre South of Royston on Vancouver Island. It’s back was light grey with white blotches (this identifying feature is that of a Grey Whale – SM). I didn’t see a dorsal or tail flukes and when it surfaced so slowly, it looked just like a rock. It moved very slowly Southward. Such a treat to look out the window and spot this whale. We regularly see Harbour Porpoise in the area, but not whales.

Dean Mills, Pender Island

1:30 pm 3 Dall’s Porpoise were heading from Atrevida Reef towards the Harwood spit just North of Powell River. I spotted them, and their distinctive white patch on their dorsals, while waiting for the Humpback Whale to resurface.

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale attacks Dolphin;

Humpback dolphins discovered off Australia are new species;