Transient Bigg’s Orca, Humpback Whale, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall’s Porpoise

Transient Bigg’s Orca, Humpback Whale, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall’s Porpoise reappearing after the earthquake which was felt throughout the Georgia Strait and even inland.

Things have been hectic with much organizing and preparation happening behind the scenes for us and our governing WOWsociety. We are working on scheduling a brief Powell River meeting in the next two weeks with some volunteers to help with our Sea Fair booth, fundraising draw for at least one whale watching tour, and other necessary tasks. If you are interested in helping, please drop us an email or call. All donations in $5 increments we receive effective May 1 till the draw, will qualify as an entry to the draw to be held at Sea Fair in July. Further details are being worked on and will be posted as soon as possible. Lynne is returning soon and we look forward to her help in getting our reports out in a more timely manner.

May 2:

4:30 pm 3 Orca milling out in front of Westview, Powell River. Later report: They were doing long dives then there was some feeding style behaviour, then down again. Looked like a larger floppy dorsal, but never got a good look. They seemed to pick up the pace heading South down Malaspina Strait.

May 1: (rec’d May 2^nd)

No time given: 3 Orca were almost inside Lund Harbour. One big fin a calf or juvenile and a female. The male seemed to push the calf up. Report came from another boater we spoke with.

May 1: (rec’d May 2^nd)

Around Midday: I have belated learned that about 8 Orca passed through Whiterock Passage, by Surge Narrows, Southbound at low tide.

April 30:

6 pm Went out to search for the Northbound Humpback Whale reported below. Like looking for a needle in a haystack! Thanks to Holly Roy, a regular reporter. She spotted a couple of blows, just below VanAnda, Texada, and helped me find the splash she was watching from the mainland shore. What a surprise when suddenly 15 + Orca popped up! The Orca moved steadily in three groups up the Texada shore. The sun’s glare proved a challenge for good photos and identification, but spotted T087 and looks like possibly T090’s(?).

7:28 pm Leaving the Orca. One small group of 3 or 4 went towards Comox, the second group, 9 Orca including T087 headed towards Vivian Island while the third group, 6 Orca headed North-West towards the center of Georgia Strait angling towards Vancouver Island.

Never did see or receive more reports on the Humpback Whale, but the reporter is knowledgeable about whale differences, in particular Humpbacks and Orca and his report is a trusted one.

April 30: (rec’d May 2nd)

Late evening: Orca were seen between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island by some visitors from Williams Lake fishing.

April 30:

4:30 pm Wed Apr 30……Orca (2?) heading west below Whalen/Fleury Rds. (Powell River) Lonnnng dives. One sighting, five “hearings”

Perk Percy, PerSeas Dive, Powell River

April 30:

10:35 am Orca in Drew Passage between Rendezvous and Reid Islands (above Desolation Sound). No direction or numbers reported by fishing guide.

April 29:

11:34 am 3 Orca (small fins) heading South, half way between Marina Island and the scallop farm off Quadra island. They’re looking directly at Mitlenatch Island.

April 28:

5:40 pm 3 or more Orca West of Rebecca Rocks, Powell River. Maybe a mile off and appeared to be heading towards the Powell River Mill. Seen from the Comox ferry.

April 28: (rec’d 29^th)

There were 5 Orca yesterday (28^th) in Whale Pass including 1 big fin (male). Late report from water taxi.

April 27:

6:13 pm Killer Whales just now coming out of Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel. Info came from tugboat.

April 25:

Morning: 15 Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales were by Alert Bay apparently Southbound.

April 22:

6:30 pm 2 Killer Whales Westbound at the East end of Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel side.

April 22: (rec’d 30^th)

Around 5 pm while crossing from Earl’s Cove to Saltery Bay on the ferry, the Captain announced that some Orca were heading up into Jervis Inlet. We could only see the distant blows.

April 22:

9:30 am Report of Orca near Subtle Island, no number or direction.

3:39 pm Orca near Penn Islands doing long dives. Looks like all small fins. Had two small groups. After sorting through the photos, it looks like we had two groups of 3 Orca. They spread out and at the end only saw a female and a juvenile. So looks like the total was 6 Orca. T023’s were some of the Orca.

April 20:

6:25 pm Orca by Race Point, Seymour Narrows. 4 small fins (females) for sure; still counting.

Left 5 Orca Southbound by Race Point. One female has a notch half way down her dorsal.

April 30:

4:30 pm 1 Humpback Whale Northbound by Albion (Black) Point, Powell River.

May 2:

2:39 pm 100 PWS Dolphins by Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait, milling.

April 30:

5:30 pm 12 Playful PWS Dolphins by Turn Island, at the junction of Nodales Channel, Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage.

April 30:

4:30 pm 15 PWS Dolphins just milling about by Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage. Just leaving them.

April 28:

8 am Dolphins on North side of Savary Island. Just saw a lot of bow waves and a couple of shy ones.

April 23:

2:30 pm (or so) 20 PWS Dolphins were with Elvis in Seymour Narrows. He called on VHF radio.

April 22:

1:03 pm Small group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins across from Painter’s Lodge in Discovery Passage.

April 21:

5 pm 30 PWS Dolphins milling by Granite Point, Seymour Narrows. A couple of young baby Dolphins in the group feeding and not in playful mood. That was all the Cetacean life today. Had a nice big black bear near Bute Inlet and lots of Eagles and Sea Lions.

April 19:

11:14 am 20 PWS Dolphins mid-channel off Gowland Harbour in front of Tyee Spit, Campbell River.

April 30:

There is a pod of either dolphins or porpoises hunting around April Point resort. They have been out here on and off since 10:00 AM. I just saw them on my lunch break. My apologies for not being specific. I’ve never seen either of those in the wild. From what I was able to see, the dorsal fins were blackish and only slightly curved, so I’d say triangular. There was about 5 or 6 of them the first time. The second time I was only able to see 2 or 3 before a small aluminum boat drove past them, after that I wasn’t able to see them again. The fist time though, a fishing boat drove by and they all started surfing on the waves it made.

April 22:

5:11 pm 8 to 10 Dall’s Porpoise by Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.

Pod of Dolphins ride wakeboard waves:

http://www.reshareworthy.com/pod-of-dolphins-chase-woman-on-wakeboard/

Humpback Whales being removed off the Species at Risk threatened list:

Dolphins swim with long distance swimmer:

Mystery of ‘ocean quack sound’ solved:

Humorous look about the octopus:
http://blog.petflow.com/im-dying-this-video-about-the-octopus-is-hilarious/