Northern Residents Top the List in Another Long Sightings Report and Update
Excitement over the Northern Resident Killer Whales finally coming back into our inside waters in numbers. The Transient Bigg’s Orca have all but disappeared somewhere. In this report, as promised there is some other information on the Orca with the damaged dorsal the Dept. of Fisheries had numbered U135. He is actually known as CA217…see below. We also have some great photos, and report, of a Minke Whale breaching. The Humpback Whale known as ‘KC’ has been putting on the miles back and forth between Campbell River and the top of Johnstone Strait. Sometimes ‘KC’ is spotted with other Humpback Whales during these travels, sometimes alone. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are happily spending time harassing the NRKW’s and a few Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise sightings bring up the rear of the report.
We are putting in long hours in preparation for Sea Fair 2014, Powell Riverand our HugeFundraising Raffle. Sea Fair runs July 25, 26 and 27th. Winners of the 6 tours will be drawn on July 27that Sea Fair and announced as soon as possible on line after sending emails and/or phoning any local winners to advise the lucky ones. Tickets are still available on line till noon, local time (PDT), and at our Willingdon Beach, Sea Fair booth till 5 pm draw date. See below the report for further information. Have you bought your tickets yet?
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whalesand Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
NORTHERN RESIDENT (fish eating) KILLER WHALES
NRKW A37 ‘Plumper’
July 22, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 22:
11:05 am: Two NRKW brothers at Ripple Point westing and foraging.
1:11 pm: Two Orca easting at St. Vincent’s Bight.
1:15 pm: 3 more Orca approaching St. Vincent’s Bight, 4 females, 1 calf.
1:40 pm: All the whales at St. Vincent’s Bight have turned and are now westing.
4:16 pm: A36’s at Rock Point, mid strait, easting.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 22:
11:50 am: NRKW Orca foraging just above Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
3:11 pm: The A36’s have turned and are eastbound past Ripple Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 22:
1:30 pm: 4 Orca foraging between St. Vincent’s Bight and Windy Point, Johnstone Strait.
Peter Cracknell, Sayward.
NRKW
July 22, 2014
Peter Cracknell, Sayward.
July 22:
1:35 pm: Leaving the NRKW boys foraging at Palmer Bay (below Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.) Lots of foraging behaviour. Plumper still less active than Kaikash but looking okay.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 22:
2:24 pm: We have about 30 NRKW Orca right now between the Adam River and Stimpson Light, Johnstone Strait.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 22:
3:30 pm: A36’s still easting past Ripple Point.
Aaron Webber,Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 22:
4:20 pm: We have a large group of Orca ( estimating 25 +) westing mid Johnstone Strait off Forward Bay, Johnstone Strait. They seem to be slowly moving towards Vancouver Island.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July 22:
5:30 pm: Left A36’s brothers rounding Chatham Point, heading into Nodales Channel.
Mark Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 21:
9:00 am: A Fishing guide has reported that there is an Orca at Hall Point. Reportedly there is just the one male there. Some others have been reported at Chatham Point.
Update: 12 Orca reported "northbound" at Chatham; presumably they are westing.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July 21:
10:34 am: Reports of 20 or so Orca at Rock Point, and a lone Orca at Hall Point. They have Pacific White Sided Dolphins harassing them. (A definite give away for them being Resident (fish eating) Orca rather than Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Orca. – SM)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
11:35 am: Two groups of Orca – the leading group is at Humpback Bay, the second group is rounding Bear Point, all heading west in Johnstone Strait.
Mark Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
A103 ‘Albion’, born Dec. 2012
July 21, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
12:02 pm: The NRKW’s A34’s are foraging and resting mid channel off Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait. Youngsters chasing Pink Salmon on the surface. Garry is with the A8’s west of us by 2 miles, about 3 miles back from Camp Point.
12:58 pm: The A8’s are at Camp Point having a tickle right now.
1:18 pm: Left the A8’s heading west at 7 knots from Camp Point along the Vancouver Island shore.
2:40 pm: Leaving the A34’s now, westing at west end of Helmken island. Awesome about Plumper!
7:56 pm: A36 boys are between Sonora Island and Hall Point, easting and foraging.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Note: Plumper (A37) has been missing for a while and was presumed to have died, but happily he is alive and well and reunited with his brother Kaikash (A46)
July 21:
1:25 pm: NRKW’s A34’s at Camp Point westing at 5 knots. Leaving the scene.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 21:
1:43 pm: Leaving the A34’s at Camp Point heading west along the Vancouver Island shoreline.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Above two photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
2:01 pm: NRKW A46 in Frederick’s Arm, feeding.
Mark Evans, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 21:
2:38 pm: Both brothers, A36’s, in Frederick’s Arm.
3:15 pm 40 NRKW Orca reported at Lizard Point, Malcolm Island at the top of Blackfish Sound.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 21:
4:08 pm: NRKW’s A8’s westing off Windy Point, half a mile offshore. Tenacious 3 is leaving the scene.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July 21:
6:30 pm: A37 and A46 westing out of Frederick’s Arm.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 20:
9:35 am (Northern Resident – determined later)Orca at Rock Point Eastbound.
Radio
July 20:
9:55 am At least 9 NRKW Orca are Eastbound at Turn Island off Chatham Point….Brad is the man, he found them!
Fabien Minifray, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 20:
12:15 pm 6 Orca – two pairs of small dorsals and two males at Sonora Point Eastbound. A8’s + A46 = 6 Orca.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Resort
July 20:
12:57 pm The Orca are now Westbound pretty fast past Davis Point, Nodales Channel, now.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 20:
4:42 pm 11 Northern Resident Orca resting West end of Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve boundary.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 20:
5:37 pm NRKW’s A8’s and A46 are at Bear Bight, Johnstone Strait. They’re resting and pointing East.
5:53 pm They just woke up and turned to head to the West quickly.
6:19 pm And now they’re Eastbound again. We’re back to Bear Bight!
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
July 19:
11:30 am: Northern Resident Orca, the A8’s at Naka Creek, eastbound Johnstone Strait.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 19:
2:30 pm: Leaving the NRKW Orca at St. Vincent Bight, Johnstone Strait, easting.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 19:
5:47 pm: 6 NRKW Orca (A8’s) easting 1.75 nautical miles west of Kelsey Bay. Tenacious 3 is leaving now, Nick ison scene. No vocals today, though lots of tail and pectoral slapping.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July 19:
5:47 pm On scene with residents, finally, lol, One mile west of Brasseau Point, Kelsey Bay area.
6:37 pm: We have Kaikash here with A42 and her family. We just watched them surfing through 4-5 foot waves past Kelsey Bay with Kaikash in the lead. They all moved over to the Hardwicke Island side, and just stopped in for a quick rub on the beach inside the reef. We are continuing east now, on the west side of Helmcken Island.
7:18 pm: We are leaving them now. The A8’s stopped at Camp Point for one tickle and then continued east.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Above two photos: NRKW A8’s and A34’s
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 18:
12:00 pm: Left Resident Orca at Petersen Island near Kelsey Bay at noon, westbound at 6 knots.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 18:
5:47 pm: 6 Orca easting 3 cables abeam of Hickey Point. Tenacious 3 is now leaving the area.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July 17:
6:30 am: The A8’s were spotted breaching off Whilby Shoals. (We do not know who identified the whales, but have entered these two reports under the NRKW’s – SM)
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 17:
8:00 am: Elvis had a report of Orca at Eagle’s Cove. (based on the later reports, it’s assumed these were Northern Resident Orca – SM)
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching. Over radio.
July 17:
11:00 am: One Orca dorsal fin at Bear Point, westing. (based on the later reports, it’s assumed this was a Northern Resident Orca – SM)
11:25 am: There are Pacific White Sided Dolphins with the Orca.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 17:
11: 45 am: Sounds like these Orca may be the A8’s. 5-6 Orca reported. Am on my way.
12:22 pm:Yes, these arethe A8’s. They are at Tyee Point now, westbound at 6 knots.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 17:
1:37 pm: Leaving the A8’s at Kelsey Bay, westing into 12 foot waves!
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
A34’s in the kelp
July, 2014
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S (meat eating) KILLER WHALES
July 19:
1:00 pm: Sketchy report of 3 Unidentified Orca (assumed Transient Bigg’s) southbound at Shelter Point, below Campbell River.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 18:
10:13 am: At Bear Point with T77A, Elvis is still on the scene waiting for Garry.(Note: Orca was identified as T170 by Whales and Dolphins BC – SM)
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 18:
7:47 am: Lone male Orca near Elk Bay, northbound at 6 knots.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
July 18:
12:05 pm Left Orca by Petersen Island, Kelsey Bay. He was westbound at 6 knots.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours, via Nick and Janeen.
July 17:
7:45 pm: Lone Orca, possibly T77A. He was just seen 15 minutes ago by a friend of mine who is a log salvager. He said he saw a huge dorsal by Hidden Harbour, in Campbell River, basically right across from the Cape Mudge Village. (From the photo Garry sent us, the lone Orca was not T77A but actually T170. Not one of the usual suspects. SM)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours, via Nick and Janeen.
July 17:
7:30 pm: Just got a report of one lone male Orca playing in the kelp beds off Rotary Beach at Campbell River all day, in the Whilby Shoals area. These are reports I got just now from a fisherman.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
HUMPBACK WHALES
July 22:
9:00 am: A boater has reported a Humpback Whale in Cordero Channel.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 22:
3:00 pm: With Humpback Whale north of Marina island, heading for Subtle Island.
4:05 pm Humpback at Viner Point, Read Island feeding.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin.
July 21:
7 am: Humpback Whale seen from the ferry line near the Campbell River side Northbound.
There was a Humpback in front of the river mouth 10 minutes ago.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 21:
8:20 am: Update on Garry’s Humpback; there are two of them now, in front of Copper Cliff, Campbell River, mid strait. They are moving north at 4 knots.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 21:
9:50 am Humpback Whale is still hanging around Race Point, Seymour Narrows bucking the tide.
9:59 am Humpback moved to the Quadra Island shore line.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
July 21:
3:28 pm Humpback Whale ‘KC’ is still hanging out between Race Point and Walcan, Seymour Narrows.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
10:14 am: The Humpback is ‘Kelp Creature’ – did a few nice tail lobs for us so got good ID. Bucking the flood current at Race Point.
10:34 am: ‘KC’ is doing donuts in front of the Walcan building. Haven’t seen the second Humpback.
4:30 pm: May be a second Humpback at Brown’s Bay possibly ‘KC’, because no one saw him at Walcan. He gave me the slip so I left. We want time to go back up to Nodales to see the NRKW brothers and to see how Plumper is doing.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
4:51 pm: The Humpback in Brown’s Bay is ‘KC’, going with the tide.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 20:
10:14 am The Humpback is ‘KC’. Did a few nice tail lobs for us so got a good ID photo. He’s bucking the flood current at Race Point, Seymour Narrows.
10:34 am ‘KC’ is doing donuts infront of Walcan, Campbell River. We haven’t seen a second Humpback Whale.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
July 20:
2:58 pm Humpback Whale at Ripple Point, close to the Northern Resident Killer Whales, Eastbound.
3:30 pm There are actually 2 Humpback Whales!
Fabien Minifray, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 20:
3:57 pm Humpback ‘KC’ with ?? are Eastbound between Ripple Point and Rock Bay, Chatham Point area.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
July 20:
4:42 pm 2 Humpback Whales at the entry to Parson’s Bay, Blackfish Sound.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 19:
11:35 am: Humpback Whale westing in Race Passage, Johnstone Strait.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 19:
3:29 pm: One Humpback at Elk Bay, southbound on the Vancouver Island side.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 19:
4:42 pm: Humpback Whale known as ‘KC’ is northbound at Elk Bay.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 19:
5:49 pm: Humpback at Chatham Point, heading into Johnstone Strait.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 19:
7:55 pm: Humpback Whale ‘KC’ is at Ripple Point now, still westbound in Johnstone Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 18:
7:24 pm: One, possibly two Humpback whales off the dock in Kelsey Bay, back and forth.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
MINKE WHALES
July 17:
9:25 am: Yesterday at 9:00 p.m while riding the Quadra Queen 11 ferry from Alert Bay to Sointula, I watched a Minke whale breaching just of the entrance to the Nimpkish estuary – approximate location 50 degrees 34′ 46.21N, 126 degrees 57′ 57.41 W. The Minke breached a couple of times, then disappeared from view. I didn’t get any good ID photos that clearly show the dorsal, so not sure which Minke this may be. I suspect it may be Eclipse (#6) as s/he has been in the area over the last few weeks, but noticeably absent for most of the last week when I have been down in that area during the morning and afternoon.
Darryl Luscombe, Sointula.
Above three photos
Darryl Luscombe, Sointula.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
July 22:
10:04 am: 50 – 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Chancellor Channel at Eden Point.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 22:
6:30 pm 35 Pacific White Sided Dolphins mid channel, Westbound off Kelsey Bay.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
July 21:
10:34 am: Report of Pacific White Sided Dolphins harassing a group of 20 or so Orca at Rock Point.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 21:
10:50 am 50 PWS Dolphins at Chatham Point angling South.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
July 21:
12:56 pm: About 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins just south of Chatham Point.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
July 21:
4:52 pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point, feeding.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 20:
9:03 am: 70 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 20:
3:17 pm 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point Westbound into Johnstone Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 19:
9:52 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Denham Bay area, Dent Rapids.
(from radio)
July 19:
10:15 am: Just one Pacific White Sided Dolphin spotted close to Denham Bay. Very foggy.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
July 19:
11:56 am: 30-ish Pacific White Sided Dolphins inbound towards the Yuculta Rapids, at Denham Bay.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
July 19:
12:20 pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Horn Point, eastbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 18:
8:22 am: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Howe Island, heading into Nodales Channel.
10:06 am: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the Denham Bay area by Sonora Island.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
July 18:
1:30 pm: 50-60 Pacific White sided Dolphins going into Frederick’s Arm.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
July 18:
2:33 pm: 4 Pacific White Sided Dolphins westing mid channel off Kelsey Bay.
John, Discovery Marine Safaris.
July 18:
3:20 pm: 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Denham Bay, Dent Rapids, feasting on young salmon.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 18:
3:50 pm: Leaving the Pacific White Sided Dolphins still in the Denham Bay area.
Fabian Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
July 18:
5:52 pm: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Separation Head, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
July 17:
11:25 am: Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Orca at Bear Bight, westing.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge.
DALL’S PORPOISE
July 22:
2:30 pm: 4 Dall’s at Brasseau Bay, milling.
Peter Cracknell, Sayward.
July 18:
11:05 am: 4 Dall’s Porpoise eastbound at Bear Point, Johnstone Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
July 22:
10:20 am: Two Harbour Porpoise milling at April Point.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
July 19:
11:55 am: About 10 Harbour Porpoise impersonating Dall’s Porpoise at the Gillard Isle light, Yuculta Rapids. They’re surfing and grouped up!
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
California Transient Bigg’s Orca Information Update
Transient Bigg’s Orca U135 is California Bigg’s CA217
He still has lice-infested unhealed wounds to his dorsal fin
July 7, 2014
by Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Information provided by Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project in Monterey, California. Thank you Alisa!
U135: California Bigg’s (transient) killer whale CA217 (“Chopfin”, AKA “Stubby” or “Stumpy”), showed upoff of Vancouver Island on July 7, 2014 with the CA216s! they have only been documented in BC once before (2011), recognized by Jared Towers, Dept. Fisheries as U135. I have seen him many times in Monterey Bay and southern California. He usually travels by himself or with another male. His preferred matriline companion is CA216 and her four offspring (his associates in this encounter). We first saw him in December 1998 off of Santa Catalina Island in southern CA (~25 miles from my home near Los Angeles Harbor). At that time, his dorsal fin was completely collapsed, with entanglement injuries at the base of his dorsal fin. Over the next year, necrotic tissue slowly ate away at the healthy tissue in his fin, leaving a stump that slowly righted itself as half of a dorsal fin. I named him Chopfin. In 2007, Cascadia Research Collective sighted him off of Westport, Washington with a relatively fresh injury to his dorsal fin; apparently a propeller had shredded it. His dorsal fin never properly healed. He is most often sighted in Monterey Bay, but has ranged south into Orange County in southern CA.
There are likely 160-180 CA Ts; some are seen so seldom, I’m not sure whether to officially count them. It is very exciting! Most seem to disperse from their usual haunts after the gray whale moms and calves pass through here, by late May. The sightings start to pick up again in late August and Sept, with many returning by October. CA217 was in Monterey Bay November 10, 2013.
Outside of the 2011 sighting, CA217 has only been documented outside of CA on two occasions (to my knowledge): both were off of Westport, Washington. The CA216s were not identified with him then. The CA216’s should include a mom and her four offspring, including a small calf. The one with the zig-zag injury is CA216B. Not sure of the sex yet: may be a sprouting male
One of the females in this sighting we call Big Eye (not an official name yet (: she has the largest eyepatches of all of our CA Ts! CA216A.
I’d like to link the U (which stands for Unidentified) numbers with the CA IDs. Should be: CA217 (Chopfin AKA Stubby, male); CA216, CA216A (Big Eye), CA216B (Jagged), CA216C, CA216D (calf).
I took this photo in Aug 2012, Monterey Bay, CA: you can see that he had unhealed wounds to his dorsal fin that still persist today (see above photo from July 7, 2014 – SM).
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project.
FUNDRAISING 2014
Fundraising 2014:Tickets for our Two Huge Raffles are available:
Powell RiverTown Centre Mall on Sat., July 12 & Sea Fair July 25, 26 & 27th
Campbell RiverDiscovery Marine Safaris office & at the Discovery Marina dock 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)
LINKS
Thanks very much to Grant Rainsley for sending us the following link; fascinating! Orca videography from a drone:
Here is a link to a video of some Orca following and catching a seal by Pender Island:
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.
