Humpback Whales, Transient Orca, a few Dolphins and Porpoise
Orca and Humpback Whales travelling back and forth in the strait. While the Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales have been covering a great deal more territory and managing to disappear regularly, there have been a couple of Humpback Whales travelling back and forth through Seymour Narrows up to Brown’s Bay and down to just below Campbell River over the past number of days. ‘KC’ or ‘Kelp Creature’ BCY0291, the Humpback that was struck by a boat last year, we believe somewhere in Discovery Passage, is one of these whales. Travelling together, the other Humpback may actually be ‘KC’s mom ‘Houdini’ BCX0002. Not quite certain.
Report below compiled by Lynne Cracknell. Thank goodness she’s back!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Fundraising Draw:
Four companies have kindly donated whale watching tours to help us raise funds to cover costs and support our society’s continued efforts.
Each tour is for two people and we will be drawing the winners at the Powell River Sea Fair again this year. NEW updated information coming! We now have 6 tours !
It is thanks to people like you who help us continue. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
All of us at Whales and Dolphins BC
Every sighting report is valuable!
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Transient Bigg’s Orca Tail Slaps
May 10, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
May 11:
A report from the people on Mitlenatch that there were 20 resident Orcas south bound this morning.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
May 15:
12:20 pm: This morning I was out fishing with a buddy, caught 2 nice Ling Cod. Heading back to Schooner Cove Marina from Winchelsea at 12:20 pm, we came across 10-12 Orcas. They were heading south towards Nanaimo. The largest Orca had a V shaped cut out of the large fin, at the rear section, halfway up. An awesome sight!
Mike Lynch, Nanoose Bay.
May 15: (rec’d 16th)
9:23 am: There were 16 Orca off Neck Point yesterday afternoon. Hopefully they are around today.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures
Transient Bigg’s Orca Tail Slap
May 10, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May 14:
7:00 am: Three to four Orca, one big fin, between Rebecca Spit (Quadra island) and Marina Island.
Kevin ( from radio)
May 14:
9:20 pm: Looks like 3 Orca close to Harwood, westing. They are taking really long dives, it took over 10 minutes to find them again and they disappeared almost immediately. They continued while some PWS Dolphins hugged the mainland shore.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
April 12: (this rec’d May 13)
Garrett suggested that you might be interested in seeing these images. There were 2 adults and a baby in this pod. Always difficult to get good photos, and this occasion was no exception. When we saw the pod I stopped my boat to give them the right of way. When I finally got my camera in position, I was able to snap several photos of the pod and was curious about the strange positioning of the baby with the adult. When I loaded them onto my computer later I was surprised and fascinated with the apparent behaviour of the adult with the baby. I used my computer to get a close up view of the adult and the baby. Indeed, it appeared that the adult was giving the baby a ride. The pod was moving quickly and was in transit for the whole time that we viewed them.(which was likely only 5 minutes or so). I have seen many Orca pods over the years, but have never observed this behaviour. Please note that my boat was en route slowly toward Lund harbour. The other boat was also travelling slowly toward Thulin Passage and the pod, travelling in the same direction as my boat, actually overtook me and passed between our two boats. Hope you find the photos interesting too.
Larry Belle, (via email.)
Larry Belle, (via email.)
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Transient Bigg’s Orca by Lund
April 12, 2014
Larry Belle
Thank you very much for that Larry! Yes, Garrett was right. The report and the photos are of great interest always. It helps to confirm which pod is where. You might be surprised to know that you actually have 4 different adults photographed here (in the 6 photos). I believe they are the T60’s. The calf whose blow only is in the shot is T60F born in 2012 and is travelling with Mom T60. They are sharing what looks like a Dall’s porpoise lunch. Dall’s Porpoise are black and white and appears to be what is in the mouth of the calf by Moms head. The behaviour is typical of food sharing and teaching the young to eat their prey without losing it to the depths while they travel.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 13:
A group of Orca have been hanging around in Desolation Sound and at the entrance to Toba inlet the whole past week. Four of them have been seen regularly off Mink island.
Mike Filewich, Powell River.
Humpback Whale Tail Flukes
May 14, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HUMPBACK WHALES
May 16:
2:42 pm But right now, we just drove past a Mother Humpback and her Calf up by April Point resort.
Shayla, Campbell River
May 15:
10:09 am Two Humpback whales northbound in Seymour Narrows.
11:49 am Leaving two Humpbacks at Browns Bay now. They are now southbound close to the Vancouver Island side.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 15:
10:30 am Two Humpbacks in Seymour Narrows. No direction.
10:45 am: Update! The Humpbacks are with Jos and moving northbound fast at Ripple Rock.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 15:
12:26 pm I am with the 2 Humpback Whales now between Brown’s Bay and Seymour Narrows. They are on the Vancouver Island side, southbound.
1:00 pm: They are just passing Seymour Narrows now, travelling at about three knots. I am leaving the scene.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
Humpback Whale
May 14, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May 15:
1:18 pm: They are southbound at Race Point. Dejavu! Same spot and same time as yesterday.
1:45 pm: Leaving the Humpbacks now at Copper Bluffs.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 14:
7:28 am: There are two Humpbacks with their noses pointed south by Copper Bluffs, Quadra side across from Campbell River. They have been around, on and off, the past week.
Jim Leishman, Campbell River.
May 14:
9:35 am: There are two Humpbacks foraging at Race Point, no particular direction. It’s the end of the ebb tide.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 14:
11:55 am: The Humpbacks are dead centre of the Narrows, right between the red and the green can buoys.
Radio
Humpback Whale BCY0291 ‘KC’
Damaged dorsal from boat strike
May 15, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 14:
1:06 pm: Two Humpbacks southbound at Race Point, Seymour Narrows. One breach!
2:52 pm: Humpbacks still hanging around by Steep Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 13:
9:55 am Humpback whale at No Name Creek, Campbell River.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 13:
10 am The Humpback is northbound now, on the Vancouver Island side.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
May 13:
1:57 pm There is a Humpback just millingabout off Porlier Pass, between Valdes and Galiano Islands.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 10:
12:00 pm Two humpback whales were swimming south past Kelsey Bay pier in Sayward BC. They swam through doing a few classic back and tail rise and fall moves and blow hole blows (not sure of the technical term for that)…hope this helps.
(You are correct, the term is ‘blow’ or ‘blows’ and all reports are helpful! – SM)
Jayne Ryan, Sayward.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May 14:
9:20 pm: Six or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins close in to the Powell River viewpoint. They are heading south, have gone down for a bit. Hiding, I’m sure since there are 3 Orca by Harwood Island!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 13:
8:36 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage near the Campbell River Spit. They are travelling northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
May 14:
4:00 pm: Four Harbour Porpoise milling around by Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 14: (rec’d 15th)
Last evening while fishing there were 3 then another 3 or so Harbour Porpoise by Grants Reef, off Savary Island.
George Belyas, Powell River.
May 12:
1:00 pm Pretty quiet on the cetacean front. One Harbour Porpoise above Brown’s Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
LINKS:
Serious concern about recent government plans to remove Humpback whales from the "threatened" list. Is this just a move to enable the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline to proceed more easily? The full story here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/humpback-whale-losing-threatened-status-amid-northern-gateway-concerns-1.2617633
Many of you will have heard about the endangered Blue Whales that tragically lost their lives on the East Coast last month. The remains of at least two of the whales are now being claimed and processed by the Royal Ontario Museum for future display.
And finally, some very good news here as an "old" friend shows up to say hello.
Humpback Whales
May 15, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
