Transient Bigg’s Orca all over the place! Long delayed report. Updated Fundraising Info
So much activity to report! And, there is also so much going on behind the scenes that this report was delayed twice.
We now have a total of 6 Tours donated to us to raffle as fundraisers! We’ve gone through the Gaming Commission hoops for our fundraising licence requirements and have been put in a position to split the raffles, so we now have TWO really great raffles…see below. They are both being drawn at the same time…..read more at the bottom of this long report. We know that you want to see all the photos and reports first!
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Every sighting report is valuable!
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Orca Leap
May, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
May 24:
2:20 pm: The T100’s and 187 are by Qualicum with noses pointed towards Comox, there are about 8 of them.
John, Comox.
May 24:
4:30 pm: Orcas just south of Hornby island, saw T101 and T102 travelling away to the south. Mad our way down there to find 8 Orca then on the way back found another 3 Orca northbound for a total of 11 Orca.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 24:
5:00 pm: 6 Orca mid channel northbound at Cape Mudge Lighthouse.(Quadra Island.) From radio
Leigh Nelson,Adventure Quest Tours.
May 24:
5:15 pm: The 6 Orca by Campbell River are moving quickly northbound, centre Discovery Passage.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 24:
5:45 pm: 8 plus Orca between the mainland and Denman Island, northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 24:
5:50 pm: 6 Orca northbound in Discovery Passage are now by Duncan Bay.
6:05 pm: There are 6 Orca – I male, 3 females, 2 juveniles (not overly young) approaching Maud Island in Discovery Passage, now.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 24:
6:38 pm Orca caught up to me heading back. Left the 6 Orca still Northbound by no name creek above Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
1:00pm: Orca off Lund. They are southbound between Savary Island and Lund. There are 3 for sure, one big male.
Daryl (she works at Knight Inlet Lodge in the summer)
May 23:
2:32 pm: Orca between Sliammon Village and Harwood Island with Leigh and Garry. There are 4 Orca, 101/102.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
3:20 pm: Left Orca.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 23:
3:30 pm: Left Orca in front of Powell River still southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Orca Breach
May, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
I just spotted blows between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood so the Orca are now headed into the Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 23:
4: 00 pm: T086’s and T124’s northbound at the Winchelsea Islands, moving at 7 – 10 knots.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures
May 22:
8:30 am: Six Killer Whales southbound past Sonora Dock.
9:30 am: They are headed into Bute Inlet past Henrietta Point.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
May 22:
9:50 am: There are a couple of Orca by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse northbound by the Lodge.
Curtis, Coast Wild Fishing.
May 22:
10:30 am Three Killer Whales off Cape Mudge Light in tide rip line northbound. Large male, sprouter (juvenile male), and female. Guess might be T010, T010B, T010C as the male has a very pronounced fat dorsal in middle. Northbound still approximately 300 meters off Quadra shoreline.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 22:
11:05 am: Six Orca at Fawn Bluff heading up Bute Inlet. From boater.
11:30 am: Orca at We Wai Kai Village (Quadra island) northbound. Confirmed T10’s.
2:24 pm Leaving the T010’s at McMullin Point northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 21:
11:20 am: Orca at Hole in the Wall, heading in to Big Bay, (Stuart island.)
Radio message relayed by Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Orca Grouped up
May, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May 21:
4:45 pm: Four Orca northbound just off Rebecca Spit Light. (Quadra Island) angling towards Hoskyns Ch. Looks like T87.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 21:
5:51 pm: Leaving Orca still heading up Hoskyns Channel.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 21 (rec’d May 22):
Day: Three different groups of Orca yesterday. Closest to you were at Gerald Island northbound last night at dark. (This came from a fisherman.) Another group came through Dodd’s southbound, but no-one went to them. We also had the T100’s and the T101’s off Active Pass northbound last night.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 20:
9:30 am Couple of Orca just off a log boom being towed.
Heather Harbord, Powell River
May 20:
9:30 am Some Orca splashing close to log boom off the Powell River Mill.
Elizabeth Tenhoeve, Powell River
May 20:
9:30 am: There’s a pod of Orca by Willingdon Beach in Powell River. No numbers, but looks like they’re headed towards the Westview Harbour.
Mike Filewich, Powell River
May 20:
9:55 am Lots of Orca just off the Powell River ferry terminal, I’m in the line up watching. Lots of splashing, so they may be on a kill. Saw sea lions before.
Liz Kennedy, Powell River
May 20:
10 am There are a bunch of Orca out in front of the Harbour, Powell River. Some people just came over to tell me.
Dave Carbery, Wharfinger, Powell River
May 20:
10:38 am: After all the calls, I headed out to find the Orca. Got ’em! There are about 9 of them by Grief Point, heading slowly, but steadily south. Plenty of splashing, breaching and playing. The two small calves had such a good time practising tail slaps at each other. The others were quite spread out so a definitive count was difficult.
10:59 am Almost to Myrtle Rocks, I can see 9 or more Orca. There’s a report of 2 more close to Myrtle Rocks, I’m on the Texada side of Malaspina Strait.
12:25 pm Leaving the Orca still southbound on the Texada side across from Albion Point.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 20:
10:59 am Two big male Orca just passed Myrtle Rocks close to the mainland shore.
Jim Southern, Powell River
May 20:
4:07 pm: There are about 8 Transient Orca off Thrasher Rock, (at the southern tip of Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo) headed your way. (Towards the Sunshine Coast.)
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 20 (rec’d May 21):
7:30 pm: Report of 5 Orca milling out between Middle Point and Race Point in Seymour Narrows. From a friend.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 20: (rec’d May 23):
We saw this pod of Orcas travelling from Lund down past Powell River on Tues May 20th. The top picture is of one Orca that was travelling away form the pod a bit, much closer to shore (about 6 feet offshore, close to some wary looking seals) I was wondering if this was transient T020 or if it was part of a resident pod. Are you also able to tell me which pod it is that we saw? The pod was maybe larger that shown on my pics. I think there were more Orcas swimming a way ahead of these. I’m a British girl new to BC and this was my first Orcs sighting 🙂 (the photo was of T087 – SM)
Bec Gillham
Orca off Lund
May, 2014
Bec Gillham
May 19:
8:30 am: Jos is tracking down an Orca report in Surge Narrows.
10:43 am: Orca (a lot of them) heading from Sentry Shoals towards Grant’s Reef, off Savary Island. This information from a fisherman.
11:49 am: There is an Orca show going on right now on the west side of Mitlenatch Island! This information from a fishing guide.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 19:
11:35 am: There is a small group of Orca, three at least, in Hoskyn channel, between Quadra Island and Read island. They are heading towards the Breton Islands.
(From radio)
May 19:
12:10 pm: 4-5 Orca southbound by Marina Island. The Orca are at the south end of the island and doing 13 knots, headed towards Mitlenatch Island. There are 8 animals at least and they are just flying! Amazing!
12:40 pm The Orca are still running around 8 – 12 knots headed south towards Sentry Shoal. There are other blows down there; they will group up just north of Sentry.
1:40 pm. Garry and I are with at least 20 Orca about one kilometre north of Mitlenatch. They have stalled there.
5:22 pm: All Orcas are now in Homfray Channel, at the south end of Horace Head, between East Redonda Island and the Mainland.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 19:
1:50 pm: They are T18/19/002/101’s/102. A bunch!
They are between Mitlenatch and the north end of Hernando Island.
2:48 pm: Looks like T19b and others are heading towards Baker Pass, between Hernando and Cortez Islands. Might have been a split! Long dives now.
3:05 pm: Leaving them now at Sutil Point, eastbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 19:
7:48 pm: Picked up 12 Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales off Nanaimo this afternoon, 5 went north towards you (Sunshine Coast) and 7 went south through Dodd’s Narrows.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 18:
6:34 am: There are at least four Orca in front of Powell River. They’re about 1 mile off shore from the ferry terminal. Lots of spy hopping and tail lobs. No direction.
Steve Grover, Powell River.
May 18:
8:11 am: Two Orca with pretty good size dorsals spotted heading south by Myrtle Rocks.
Jim Southern, Powell River.
May 18:
8:30 am: I just spotted two or more Orca between Harwood and Atrevida Reef. No idea what direction as yet. There are three, maybe four of them, looks like they are angling towards Mystery Reef, Savary Island.
9:15 am They must have turned. I see one dorsal by Harwood, on the Powell River side, just below the Spit.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 18:
1:00 pm: 16 Killer Whales off Gibsons, Sunshine Coast.
4:40 pm: The T100’s and T124’s are Northbound off Nanaimo.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 18: (rec’d May 19):
Afternoon: I just wanted to let you know we had by far the best Orca watching ever in my many years here. We first saw whales in front of Lund and then on the way back to Savary we saw at least 9 playing and frolicking between Lund and Savary. Everything!!! Spy hops, breaching, tail and fin slaps the works. Unfortunately our pictures are not so great. We were still talking about how wonderful it was about 4:30 when we were sitting on the beach and they swam on by and made their way to Indian point. Huge splashes against the dark sky behind Campbell River. I am sure you will have got many reports. (Reminder to all…please report your sightings – SM)We would love to know if you hear which whales were in this pod? So exciting!!!! I will send the best of our bad photos. There were several smaller whales and at least one young with the white still yellowish and a huge we thought male who was doing the breaching display. But several whales were porpoising and tale slapping and spy hopping.
Bruce and Dulcie Macdonald, Savary Island
Orca off Savary Island
May, 2014
Bruce and Dulcie Macdonald, Savary Island
May 18: (rec’d 19th)
Afternoon: Lund enjoyed a long afternoon sighting of J-pod on Sunday May 18 if you haven’t heard! We have a couple of pics and will be receiving more sometime soon. What kind of details would you like about the sighting? (Later received a video clip – yes, Transient Bigg’s Orca – SM)
The Team at Terracentric, Terracentric Adventures, Lund.(via email)
Response: Thanks for that. We log and post Date, Time, Location, Number of Whales, Dolphin or Porpoise and their direction. Yes, I’d love to see some photos. I somehow don’t think J-Pod was around, but some photos should confirm it. Thanks very much for that, (Received a video clip – yes, Transient Bigg’s Orca – SM)
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
May 17:
11:43 am: Jos is reporting Orca in Discovery Passage.
3:28 pm 7 Orca in Ramsay Arm, above Desolation Sound. Three big fins, three small dorsals and a calf.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 17:
1:18 pm: Just heard on radio, there are approximately seven Orca entering into Ramsay Arm, at the south end of Bute Inlet. Two big fins. Benito called them in.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 16:
8:30 am: There were Killer Whales off Nanaimo northbound at 8:30 am. That’s all the info I have for now.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 16:
9:34 am: Orca in Blind Channel. (Between East and West Thurlow Islands.) from our pilot.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
UNIDENTIFIED / UNCONFIRMED WHALES
May 22:
10:10 am: Spotted a couple of blows off Twin islands towards Cortez Bay.
Cam M.
HUMPBACK WHALES
May 24:
Morning: I watched a Humpback for about an hour and a half off Roberts Creek pier this am about 1 km out. Another one was sited in Howe Sound today too around the same time. Love it.
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek
May 23:
11:20 am We just watched a humpback whale off Ripple Shoal in Current Pass. It breached once.
Christine Smith, Motor Vessel David B
Christine Smith, Motor Vessel David B
May 22:
3:16 pm Humpback Whale Southbound by April Point.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Humpback Whale Tail Flukes
‘KC’ May, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
May 21:
2:57 pm: Humpback south of Campbell River, southbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 21 (rec’d May 22):
8:30 am: Yesterday there was a Humpback off Bowen Island lunge feeding.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 20:
10:25 am: Humpback Whale in Seymour Narrows, no direction.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 20:
2:30 pm: A Fisherman saw two Humpbacks off April Point around 2:30 pm Jack got the call.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
May 20:
4:00 pm: Report from April Point Water Taxi to say there are Humpbacks in front of the Campbell River river mouth.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 18:
9:25 am: There are two Humpbacks at Quathiaski Cove, (Quadra Island) northbound. Atail fluke photo from one of the Humpbacks that have been hanging around here, this picture was taken yesterday at about 9:15 a.m. in front of Q-Cove. (HB is KC or Kelp Creature BCY0291 Born 2002 – SM)
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 18:
11:30 am: We are camping at Brown’s Bay, just saw two Humpback Whales travelling north through the Passage. Yippee! Hope to see them again, it was a quick sighting, they both took deep dives and disappeared.
Tara Bladon, Alberta.
May 18:
11:40 am (approx) Found 2 Humpbacks off Brown’s Bay.
12:30 pm: Leaving the Humpbacks now at No name Creek (Campbell River) northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 18:
3:04 pm: Humpbacks in Elk Bay, Discovery Passage (from a boater.)
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 18:
4:50 pm: Humpback at Chatham Point, foraging.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 17:
10:12 am: 2 Humpback Whales by April Point.(Quadra island.) And report of Orca in Discovery Passage.
11:03 am I’m with the two Humpbacks. They have crossed over to the Vancouver Island side and are at Orange Point, (near Campbell River) southbound.
11:43 am Leaving the Humpbacks between Orange Point and Dolphins Resort angling back to the Quadra Island side.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 17:
1:08 pm: 2 Humpbacks mid channel off Orange Point. They are moving slowly southbound.
1:18 pm Have left the Humpbacks at the south end of Steep Island, still moving slowly south.
2:44 pm Picked up the Humpbacks still southbound by We wai kai Village (Cape Mudge).
2:52 pm: Leaving the Humpys at Cape Mudge. (Quadra)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 17:
2:07 pm: The 2 Humpbacks are now approaching Quathiaski Cove, (Quadra island) Staying more on the Quadra side now. Putting on a show!
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
May, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May 24:
5:15 pm: 12 or so PWS Dolphins off the entrance to Okisollo Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
10:57 am: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick’s Arm.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 21:
7:00 pm: I’m paddle boarding with about twenty Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Jimmy Judd island and the Dent Rapids in the Yuculta Rapids.
7:10 pm: They are playing with me!
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
May 21:
3:10 pm: Twenty Pacific White Sided Dolphins, together with some Dall’s Porpoise at Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 19:
9:24 am: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Race Point.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 18:
11 am Two Dolphins seen coming from Silva Bay to Vancouver at 1100 hours. 4 more seen at 1300 hours 2 km. west of Racon (light buoy) off Point Grey.
Allen Dick, Vancouver.
May 18:
4:50 pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Okisollo Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
DALL’S PORPOISE
May 24:
3:26 pm: Dall’s Porpoise at Horn Point between Dent Rapids and Frederick Arm.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
9:44 am: 10 Dall’s Porpoise in Browns Bay, north of Campbell River.
10:57 am: 20 Dall’s Porpoise at John’s Point, Nodales Channel.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 23:
11 amWe also had a group of Dalls on our bow at Turn Island around 11am.
Christine Smith, Motor Vessel David B
May 21:
3:10 pm: Six Dall’s Porpoise with some Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Jimmy Judd Island (between Stuart and Sonora island.)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 19: Saw two again today in the same spot as I was crossing from Vancouver to Porlier. They swam with me and came out of the water numerous times. These today were black and white, like little orcas.
Allen Dick, Vancouver.
Harbour Porpoise
May 24:
6:40 pm 6 Harbour Porpoise milling off Mitlenatch Island on the Vancouver Island side.
JJos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Branded and Entangled Sea Lions
May 23:
Branded Steller Sea Lion on Mitlenatch Island: 882R from Rogue Reef Oregon
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 22:
Branded Steller Sea Lion on Mitlenatch Island: 251F (see above)
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Rec’d May 19:
Was not able to find Steller Sea Lion with the rope around his neck yesterday (18th). I spoke with one of the coastguard guys stationed at our marina and he said he could clearly see rope and it also looked like it was seeping blood and other fluid. This was 2 days ago, (first sighted May 16) but not sure if he is even there anymore as I couldn’t see him when we were out there yesterday. I did manage to get a good shot of another Steller with a big brand on his side and have included that in the attachments. (Brand is 251F from Forster’s Island in Alaska this is the second sighting of this animal on Mitlenatch Isl.- SM)
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Orca Big Blows
May, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
HUGE FUNDRAISING EVENT
2 GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE #1:
-
Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours – Whale Watching for Two
-
Discovery Marine Safaris – Whale Watching for Two
-
Stubbs Island Whale Watching – Whale Watching for Two
RAFFLE #2:
-
Adventure Quest Tours (Kayak Tour for Two)
-
Eagle Eye Adventures (Whale Watching for Two)
-
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions (Whale Watching for Two)
Tickets are 5 for $10 – Please make sure you specify what Raffle you’d like in the notes.
Gaming Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your limit, play within it.
Both raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea Fair
For On-line Entries: enter here: https://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/donate/
Tickets will also be available for direct purchase at:
Powell River:
– the Powell River Spot Prawn Festival, June 7, 2014
– a table in the Powell River Town Center Mall (dates and times to be announced)
– our Powell River Sea Fair booth July 26-27, 2014
Vancouver Island & Sechelt Penninsula:
– we are working on locations for ticket sales
Updated ticket sale locations will be posted through our Sightings Reports and on our Web site at Whales and Dolphins BC.
Thank you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
All of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
