Transient Bigg’s Orca, Grey Whale, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise
End of May ALREADY?! The Transient Bigg’s Orca popped up and disappeared from the central Georgia Strait but some of the ones seen recently have snuck up the coast, or circumnavigated Vancouver Island, to show up at the top of Johnstone Strait with a few back in our area again. Some of these Orca Susan MacKay had recently by Texada. Since they were Southbound and no reports of them in the South or heading North, it’s hard to say what direction they took. Sneaky aren’t they? That’s why it’s important to get your reports!
Otherwise, and unusual sighting of a small Grey (or Gray depending on your preference of spelling) Whale up by Stuart Island has us wondering if the Transients were on the hunt for it. Looking at the photo, he/she is pretty scarred, but most scars look healed.
Fundraising 2014:Our main web site is updated and tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available for sale on line. Please check out the details link: https://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/win-at-sea-fair-2014/
2 GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE #1:
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Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours – Whale Watching for Two
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Discovery Marine Safaris – Whale Watching for Two
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Stubbs Island Whale Watching – Whale Watching for Two
RAFFLE #2:
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Adventure Quest Tours (Kayak Tour for Two)
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Eagle Eye Adventures (Whale Watching for Two)
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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.
Both raffles will be drawn at 5 pm on July 27, 2014 at Powell River Sea Fair
Thank you all for your ongoing enthusiasm and support!
All of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
Our first venue is at the Spot Prawn Festival at Powell River’s Westview Harbour on June 7th. We will have a table with information and tickets available. Stop by and say hello.
Thank you to ALL the volunteers, not one of us is paid, who have helped with the production and promulgating (funny how one learns a word and suddenly has a million uses for it) of materials. Lynne has again, been instrumental to getting this report together for the internet, while many other people have cut, stapled and posted information in the physical world.
And of course, we must thank the great companies who donated the over $2,000 worth of prizes we are able to raffle off to help fund our efforts.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Every sighting report is valuable!
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
Transient Bigg’s T123’s
May 25, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 30:
8:20 pm 4 Orca Southbound by the Iron Mines off Lund Harbour. Looked like a small calf with them. They were moving slowly. Don’t think there were any really big males.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island (relayed through Rick Thaddeus, Savary Island)
May 30:
12:45 pm: Three or four Orca southbound by the Campbell River Mill.
1:45 pm: Orca now by Cape Mudge Village, this is from talking to the Connector between Painter’s Lodge and April Point Resort. There is one male and 2 small fins at Cape Mudge, southbound.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 30:
Earlier in the day: Mackay Whale Watching of Port McNeill picked up the T060’s in Cormorant Channel, Pearse Islands, heading west.
Josh McInnes
May 30:
2:30 pm At least 4 Orca, two big fins, southbound at Shelter Point. 2:55 pm It’s the T18s and 19b.
3:56 pm Leaving the Orca about half a mile south of Mitlenatch still Southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 30:
2:30 pm There are 3 Orca at Sarah Point, at the northwest end of the Malaspina Peninsula.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 30
3:57 pm: T 77’s at Winchelsea Islands, headed for Ballenas Island.
Simon Piddock, Ocean Eco Adventures.
May 29:
10:23 am: Orca at Twin Islands, southeast of Cortes Island, northbound.
5: 30 pm: Orca in Cortes Bay, northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 28:
8:00 am: Report of Orca – one large male and four others milling around at Bullock Bluff, at the north end of Cortes Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 27:
2:54 pm: Orca northbound off the Sonora Dock now. Also, I just heard from a lady at Blind Channel that Transients slaughtered a group of PWS Dolphins in Little Bear Bay a couple of days ago. Don’t have better details, sadly.
Aaron Nagler,Sonora Lodge.
Transient Bigg’s T123’s
May 25, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 27:
3:35 pm:T049”s,T065A and T093 off the San Juan Islands.
Josh McInnes
May 26:
9:55 am: Three, maybe more Orca in front of Powell River, southbound. There is one big male, possibly a second following behind.
Steve Grover, Powell River
May 26:
11:22 am: Just got a face book message about some Orca near Beach Garden Resort in Powell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 26:(rec’d May 27)
Information on the group of Orca Southbound by Powell River was that there were "lots" of them including a number of small ones.
SM
May 25:
4:21 pm: 3 Orca mid channel by Discovery Marina, Campbell River, northbound.
From Radio.
May 25:
5:00 pm: We have Stanley, Sidney and the newer calf – the T123’s, at Orange Point, Campbell River. What a great start to the season!
5:50 pm: Leaving the Orca at the power lines, still northbound. Never did see the Humpback reported in the area.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 24:
Around 2 pm Jim Wyatt saw a big male and one other Orca milling around Sea Lion Rocks in front of Frolander Bay at Powell River.
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Wyatt, from email
Transient Bigg’s T123’s
May 25, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
GREY WHALES
May 27:
3:05 pm: There is a Grey whale by Kelsey Point on Stuart island. It was first reported as Orca blows, then possibly a Humpback Whale, but now confirmed as a Grey.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
May 27:
3:25 pm: Definitely a Grey Whale.
4:46 pm There are a half a dozen dolphins at Kelsey Point together with the Grey Whale.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Grey Whale
May 27, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
HUMPBACK WHALES
May 30:
4:25 pm: Humpback between Shelter Island and the red can buoy.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 29:
9:27 pm: Humpback in front of We Wai Kei Village (Quadra Island) heading north.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 26:
12:02 pm: Humpback just off Bartlett island across from the Church house (Stuart Island)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 26:
1:02 pm:With Humpback whale just below Bartlett Island, southbound.
2:03 pm Left Humpback by Raza Island, (Discovery Islands group), southbound with Elvis. This one has an all black tail.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 25:
9:25 am: Humpback in Discovery Passage above Brown’s Bay. From Brad at Painter’s Lodge. No direction given.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 25:
9:30 am:Humpback on Vancouver Island side, moving slowly southbound.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
May 25:
10:45 am:Humpback now at Brown’s Bay, southbound.
11:07 am: Leaving Humpback now at Plumper Bay, northbound.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 25:
1:50 pm: Leaving Humpback between Brown’s Bay and Seymour Narrows, northbound.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 25:
4:00 pm: Good Morning. We just spotted a mother Humpback with her calf halfway between Donegal Head and Lizard Point on Malcolm Island.
Christine Smith, MV David B. (via email)
May 25:
5:35 pm: There is a Humpback by the Light at Maud Island, in Seymour Narrows, northbound.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May 29:
3:04 pm: Radio report of a bunch of Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Granite Point, northwest corner of Quadra Island.
4:42 pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging in Brown’s Bay, near Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 27:
4:50 pm:There are half a dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Kelsey Point, Stuart Island, together with the Grey whale.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 27:
5:07 pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Hole in the Wall, at the west end.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 26:
9:23 am: A dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
May 26:
1:34 pm: Fifty Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound in Deepwater Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 25:
10:24 am50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins sighted in Greensea Bay, across from Chatham Point.
From Radio.
10:45 am: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound at 7 knots, by Cinque Islands.
1:50 pm: The Dolphins are now at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
DALL’S PORPOISE
May 27:
1:26 pm: 5 Dall’s Porpoise milling around at No Name Creek (Campbell River.)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
OTHERS
May 28:
11:45 am: Guide report of an Elephant Seal just north of Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
LINKS
An increase in whale strikes on the East Coast deepens concerns that increased tanker traffic in our own coastal waters will have a detrimental effect on our west coast whale populations. The story here:
Transient Bigg’s T123’s
May 25, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Gaming Licence for Raffle #1 is 65278 Raffle #2 is 65280 – Know your limit, play within it.
