Quite a Show – Transient Bigg’s Orca & Pacific White Sided Dolphins Leaping
Transient Bigg’s Orca have grouped up and have been putting on quite a show. Great photos below! The Pacific White Sided Dolphins, the acrobatic show-offs, have appeared in numbers up to 150 while Humpback Whale reports have been few. Dall’s Porpoise have been spotted in a large group of 50-100 animals and Harbour Porpoise are back to being seen in their usual small groups or alone.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Fundraising 2014:Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell RiverTown Centre Mall on Thurs., June 26 & July 3 and Friday, June 27 & July 4
Campbell RiverDiscovery Marina offices of: Eagle Eye Adventures & Aboriginal Journeys Whale & Grizzly Tours
2 GREAT RAFFLES FOR A TOTAL OF 6 TOURS TO BE DRAWN!
RAFFLE #1:
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Aboriginal Journeys Whale 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!
From all of us at Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
Transient Bigg’s T102
June 23, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
June 24:
7:59 am A number of Orca were seen on the last two ferry runs near Whiskey Point (Quathiaski – Campbell River ferry run). They swung around and are Northbound by April Point now. There’s a big ebb.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 24:
8:20 am Number of Orca by Steep Island, Discovery Passage, Northbound.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge
June 24:
8:43 am 10 or so Orca I’m with them at the South end of Steep Island.
9:15 am Leaving the Orca, now Southbound at April Point.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
June 23:
7:00 am: Orca northbound at Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island. They’re mid channel, April Point. Saw a number of blows from ferry.
8:40 am the Orca went northbound past Separation Head.
5:06 pm: Orca, the large group of them, southbound at Elk Bay, Campbell River area.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient Bigg’s Orca
June 23, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 23:
10:30 am: 15-20 Orca off Howe Island, Nodales Channel feeding.
(From radio)
June 23:
11:54 am: Lone Orca spotted at Lawrence Point, entrance to Bute Inlet.
1:00 pm: The Orca in Bute Inlet is southbound midway down the East side of Stuart Island.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
(The Orca in Bute appears to be alone. It’s T77A. From the photo Jos texted me.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.)
June 23:
12:00 pm: The big group of Orca is by Little Elk Bay near Okisollo Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 22:
5:50 am: Orca in front of the Discovery Marina at Separation Head, Quadra Island, northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Transient Bigg’s Orca
June 23, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 22:
8:00 am: Report of 4 Orca playing around Separation Head, Quadra Island. No direction.
8:30 am: 12 Orca northbound by Separation Head.
12:15 pm: Looks like T101s and T102 and T002C’s.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 22:
9:44 am: One male Orca at Separation Head, haven’t seen any of the others.
10:18: The rest of the pod is on the Vancouver Island side, at No Name Creek. There are 2 males mid channel heading south.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 22:
4:00 pm: T101A and T101B have separated from the main group of T’s by over 6 nautical miles to the south. We are leaving them right now, they are still swimming slowly southbound approximately 5.5 miles off the Vancouver Island shoreline between Sentry Shoal Marker and Vancouver Island. Thought they were going to have a snack at Mitlenatch, but just passed by.
5:55 pm: We are approximately one nautical mile to the West of Mitlenatch Island watching the T002Cs and T101/102 grouped up heading straight east towards Sentry Shoal Area. Mostly swimming and speed swimming/sleeping.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 21:
5:33 pm: I’ve got around 4 blows between Harwood and Atrevida Reef. Can’t tell what direction yet. Last spotted off the Harwood spit between Harwood and Savary Islands. I assume Orca although I never actually saw dorsals. The blows were too big for Dolphins and too small for Humpbacks.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 16:
8:40 am Report of 2 Orca, one big fin, westing at Subtle Island, west extremity of Cortes.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 15:
9:02 pm: I have spotted 3 – 4 Orca about 1.5 nautical miles SE of the east end of Savary Island milling around for about 15 minutes at this time. The distance and rough water makes further identification not possible.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island.
Transient Bigg’s Orca
June 23, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
HUMPBACK WHALES
June 21:
11:40 am: Humpback eastbound at Tyee Point, west end of West Thurlow Island
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 18:
8:36 am: Picked up a report from Tommy T near Sonora of a lone large whale, possibly a Minke or smaller Humpback, northbound bucking the tide in front of Sonora Resort. Guessing maybe 20 minutes ago or more.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 18:
8:40 am: Sea Beast off Sonora Dock right now – I can’t confirm the species as I haven’t seen it myself – but – I’m told that a Humpback has been in front of Sonora docks back and forth since about 6:30 am.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Resort
June 18:
2:45 pm: Small Humpback off Windy Point, Johnstone Strait, heading north mid strait. Not moving very fast. Milled around in circles for about twenty minutes, blowing and taking short dives, and then it fluked once, came back up and decided to turn around and head south, much closer to the Vancouver Island side.
Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 15:
11:12 pm: Two Humpbacks going north past East Thurlow Island, travelling at 4 knots.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 15:
11:52 pm: Two Humpbacks rounding Edith Point.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
June 20, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 23:
11:10 am. Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Ripple Point.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 21:
10:45 am 100-150 Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Peterson Islet, just off Kelsey Bay, this morning.
(from Radio)
June 21:
11:10 am: Sounds like there are Pacific White Sided Dolphins easting somewhere around Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 21:
11:15 am: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Vansitart Point, Eastbound.
Jen Furst and Leif Nordman, via Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 21:
12:24 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Ripple Point.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June 21:
5:33 pm: Report of Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Granite Point but I didn’t see them again.
Fabian, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 20:
3:00 pm: 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Shoal Bay East Thurlow Island.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 20:
4:00 pm: Same Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound at Owen Point, in Nodales Channel.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
June 19:
08:00 am: Report of Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Seymour Narrows half a hour ago, no direction.
12:24 pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Race Point, Discovery Passage.
12:28 pm: 20 more Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Yellow Island.
3:55 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins mid channel at Brown’s Bay, feasting.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 18:
10:30 am: 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Ripple Rock.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June 18:
10:48 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins now southbound at Race Point, spread out.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 18:
11:35 am: Leaving Pacific White Sided Dolphins turned into Duncan Bay foraging, with hundreds of gulls above them.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 18:
12:02 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins westbound at Yellow Island, Campbell River.
12:50 pm: 150 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out in Brown’s Bay.
4:05 pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging mid channel at Kanish Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
June 20, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 18:
1:30 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at 45 Point, Discovery Passage.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 18:
2:54 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Geord, Discovery Marine Safaris.
June 18:
3:25 pm: Leaving Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Granite Point mid channel.
6:25 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Brown Bay.
Fabian, Way West Water Taxi.
June 17:
11:15 am: Report from a boater of 12 Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound from McMullen Point.
1:30 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging in Seymour Narrows.
5:18 pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at 45 Point, Discovery Passage. Leaving the scene now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 17:
1:00 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound in Seymour Narrows.
2:25 pm: The PWS Dolphins are now spread out between Brown’s Bay and Seymour Narrows.
(from Radio.)
June 17:
3:07 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins going north past No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman,Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 17:
4:21 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Eagle’s Cove, Discovery Passage now.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 17:
6:06 pm: 50 plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at Eagle’s Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 17:
7:00 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound 10 knots at Brown’s Bay.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 16:
1:30 pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Brown’s Bay. Make that 75 Dolphins foraging.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 16:
3:04 pm: There are about 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling around the Maude Island Light.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
June 16:
3:42 pm: There’s about 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Ripple Rock.
(from Radio)
June 16:
5:31 pm: 35 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at April Point, across from Campbell River.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 15:
3:00 pm: Around 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound at Brown’s Bay.
3:42 pm There’s about 100 PWS Dolphins at Ripple Rock.
(From radio)
June 15:
4:39 pm: 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Brown’s Bay, Discovery Pass.
5:35 pm: 75 Pacific White Sided Dolphins , playing and leaping in Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
June 23, 2014
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
HARBOUR PORPOISE
June 19:
2:56 pm: 4 Harbour Porpoise in the Jimmy Judd Island area, between Stuart and Sonora Islands.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 17:
12:08 pm: There are a few Harbour Porpoise by Dent Rapids, north east side of Sonora Island.
(from Radio)
DALL’S PORPOISE
June 22:
3:30 pm: We saw 50 – 100 Black and Whites (Dall’s Porpoise)travelling parallel to us for at least 20 minutes at N50 44.9 W126 48.2 (That is off Malcolm Island close to Alert Bay) this afternoon at 3.30. They were jumping clear out of the water and sometimes straight up. I took some video (not posted yet on line – will keep everyone posted once up – SM). That is the biggest group of such critters I’ve encountered since I saw a group chasing a cruise ship in the Sargasso Sea a few years back.
Allen Dick, by email
June 22:
5:30 pm: 4 – 6 Dall’s Porpoise down at the end of Bessborough Bay, feeding. Tiny fish were jumping out of the water everywhere, and the Dall’s were swimming in tight circles close to shore.
Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 21:
4:34 pm: 10 Dall’s Porpoise at John’s Point, Nodales Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 15:
12:42 pm: Couple of Dall’s Porpoise by Dent Island.
(From Radio)
LINKS
We have some really good news stories to share with you this report, and a fascinating video for you to watch as well:
Minke Whale calf rescue:
All white Humpback know as Migaloo was seen again June 20th:
Southern Resident Orca by Gabriola Island June 20th:
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
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