Happy Canada Day! Cetacean Sightings Update
Happy Canada Day to Everyone!Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Orca in front of Powell River delayed this Sightings update by a number of hours. The T002C’s seem to love this area and have become our "Resident" Transients, a term I coined over a year ago indicating that they remain in this area and the surrounding inlets more so than other Bigg’s Orca. In this report, we also have a couple of Humpback Whales that are working their way up to usual feeding grounds around the top of Johnstone Strait and farther, as well as some Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the inlets and a few Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Fundraising 2014:Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell RiverTown Centre Mall on Thurs., July 3 and Friday, July 4 and Sat., July 12
Campbell RiverDiscovery Marine Safaris office & at the Discovery 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:
-
Aboriginal Journeys Whale 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.
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 KILLER WHALES
T002C’s by Powell River
June 30, 2014
Susan MacKay, SG Images
July 1:
8 am Yesterday’s Orca spotted heading up Lewis Channel, between Cortez and West Redonda Islands.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin
June 30: There was a report from a tugboat of 6 Orca southbound early this morning, no other details available.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 30:
3:38 pm: Orca southbound at Viner Point. Just left them ten minutes ago.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 30:
6:30 pm Just spotted one big Orca in front of Powell River, southbound.
7 pm Being quite elusive. There are a lot of fishing boats out there, as well as the ferry. I have 5 – 6 Orca total so far, taking long dives. I just got back from my boat but may head out again.
8:35 pm I’m with them now finally. 8 Orca between Texada Island and Rebecca Rocks.
9:12 pm: Am about to leave T101/102/T002C’s heading north west in Georgia Strait by Vivian Island. They are moving very slowly, lots of resting and passing on having seal meals. I watched at least 8 different seals pop up and the Orca just passed close by them. Still doing long dives.
9:30 pm: Left them resting about 1.5 miles off Vivian Island with their noses aimed towards Campbell River. Waited a bit longer to watch them since they made a bit of a turn angling more towards Vivian, but they stopped again.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 29:
10:13 am: Sounds like there are Orca at Reid Island.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 29:
10:19 am: Orca at Breton Islands, Hoskyn Channel, milling.
11:43 am: T101’s, T102 and T002C’s Should be eight animals then.
3:38 pm: Orca at Viner Point southbound. Left them 10 minutes ago.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient Bigg’s Orca
June 26, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 29:
4:25 pm: Coming up on Twin Bay, Reid Island, with T’s basically northbound up Reid Island.
5:32 pm: Leaving T101’s, 102,002C’s in Evans Bay, spread out. Now again grouped up and heading out of Evans Bay for Whale Passage. All grouped up. T101B hanging back with T002C2 Tumbo. T002C2 always seems to be lagging behind during our encounter.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 29:
10 am There are 9-10 Orca at Read Point, moving slowly southbound.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 29:
11:43 am: Orcas between Viner Point and Read Point, milling. They are T101, T102, and T002c’s.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 26:
10:00 am: 2 Orca southbound at Mitlenatch Island with Mark.
11:17 am: Orca have turned and are heading north back towards Mittlenatch.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 26:
12:14 pm: 2 Orca are between Mitlenatch Island and Grant’s Reef, off Savary Island.
1:16 pm: The Orca are just north of Grant’s Reef, near the green can buoy, eastbound.
1:35 pm: Leaving them south-eastbound at Vivian island, south end of Harwood.
Fabian, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 26:
1:47 pm: More whales just out from Vivian Island heading up. Just spotted the blows.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 26:
2 pm It’s the T101’s, and the rest of the gang. (The big gang from yesterday). The T02C’s and the others are just below Vivian Island still.
3:05 pm: Leaving the scene with the 8 Orca between Mystery Reef and Grant’s Reef – they are travelling very slowly northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 26:
3:30 pm: Leaving Orca halfway between Grant’s Reef and Mystery Reef, off Savary Island still slowly northbound.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
June 26:
4:05 pm: Leaving Orca halfway between Grant’s Reef and Mystery Reef. They are still heading slowly northbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 25:
7:45 am: Around 10 Orca inbound towards Jervis Inlet, just passed Saltery Bay ferry terminal, milling by wires. This is from the Ferry. There are some bulls and some calves.
Bob Steer.
June 25:
7:50 am: I just got an email that apparently around 6:00 pm last evening there were 2 + Orca southbound by Powell River. I missed them!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC.
June 25:
2:15 pm: Found them! 13 Orca very far up Jervis Inlet, about 20 miles after the power lines.
Left the Orca, still heading into Jervis Inlet.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Transient Bigg’s Orca
June 26, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 25:
5:15 am: Orcas off Westview, (Powell River)
Peter Harvey.(via email)
June 24:
8:10 am: Orca have been spotted on the last 2 Ferry runs (between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island.) They are near Whiskey Point.
8:15 am: They have swung north and are at April Point now.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 24:
8:20 am: Orca at Steep Island, northbound.
11:21 am: Transients southbound slightly towards the red can off Cape Mudge, Quadra Island.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 24:
8:43 am: With the Orca at the south end of Steep Island,Discovery Passage.
9:15 am: Leaving the Orca now southbound at April Point, there are 10 or so whales.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Humpback Whale
June 25, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
June 30:
4:50 pm: Humpback whale milling off Kelsey Bay. (Report from Tugboat)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 29:
3:30 pm: Hi, This is the info that was requested about my whale sighting today, Sunday June 29. About 3:30 pm and the whale seemed to be milling around Kelsey Bay. I saw one yesterday Saturday June 28 about 2 pm. Someone had seen the Humpback that morning around 9:30 am and it seemed to be milling around and maybe feeding. I hope this info helps. I am a photographer so am always at the water trying to get whale photos.
Joyce Ellis, Sayward.
June 28:
09:45 am: Humpback whale off Kelsey Bay, possibly feeding, moving slowly to the south. We were on the beach at a considerable distance, so difficult to get a photo or describe in detail. Stayed in the area for about 20 minutes.
Glenn Mackie, Sayward.
June 26:
Report of a Humpback in the bay near Port Neville this morning.
Chris Murdock, Port Neville.
June 25:
4:30 pm Small Humpback foraging at Plumper Bay, southbound Discovery Passage.
Brad, Painter’s Lodge.
June 25:
5:09 pm: Humpback at Race Point, Seymour Narrows now, still southbound.
5:40 pm: Left the Humpback travelling south past Copper Bluffs at 3 – 4 knots. It has a wide narrow tail, some white, pics to follow.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Young Pacific White Sided Dolphin
June 27, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 30:
3:40 pm: Report of 15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins eastbound at Erasmus Island, off East Thurlow.
Fabian, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 30:
4:50 pm: 25 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Camp Point, northbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 28:
10:24 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Mayne Passage.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 28:
5:48 pm: Pacific White sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage, southbound.
Fabian, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 27:
12:52 pm: Pacific White Sided Dolphins potted between Davis and Sonora Points, Nodales Channel.
(From Radio)
June 27:
1:30 pm: Apparently there are some Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Sonora Point.
4:42 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out around Howe Island, Chatham area.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 26:
10:12 am: Sounds like Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Thurston Bay, (from Brad.)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 25:
3:03 pm: Ladyhawk has approximately 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins spread out in Elk Bay.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 25:
3:15 pm: The Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in Eagles Cove. Still spread out and southbound.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 25:
4:00 pm: 60 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at 45 Point Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 24:
Today we were accompanied for almost an hour at N50 47 W126 13 by dozens (of Pacific White Sided Dolphins) breaking water and occasionally jumping all over the channel in every direction and alongside the boat. These are grey on top, although some are almost black, with white bottoms. I have at least 20 minutes of incredible close up video on my phone. I actually got tired of filming and quit after twenty minutes or so.
Allen Dick (via email)
HARBOUR PORPOISE
June 30:
3:44 pm: 3 Harbour Porpoise at Jimmy Judd Island, between Stuart and Sonora Islands.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 28:
3 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise in Bute Inlet by Lawrence Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 24:
10 am One Harbour Porpoise at Brown’s Bay. No direction.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
DALL’S PORPOISE
June 27:
4:00 pm: 4 Sea Cheetahs (Dall’s Porpoise) at Denham Islet. (These animals zip around very quickly and it’s easy to give them nicknames, such as Cheetahs or, as I call them, Speed Demons – SM)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 24:
12:00 pm: 3 Dall’s Porpoise foraging at Mermaid Bay by the Yuculta Rapids.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
LINKS:
Just when you thought it was safe to relax! The Japanese Government announces it’s intent to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean, despite the recent World Court ruling:
Whale numbers are up delighting watchers.
T002C’s Heading up past Vivian Island
June 30, 2014
Susan MacKay, SG Images
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.
