Lots of Dolphins, Intermittent Killer Whale and Humpback Whale Sightings
Intermittent sightings of Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and, although there are Humpback Whales transiting the area, they too have been spotted only intermittently. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in larger groups and seem to be the most noticed, perhaps because of their numbers and wonderful leaping antics. Dall’s Porpoise are regulars around Bute Inlet and have also been noticed frolicking.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales Punching through waves
October 14, 2014 – 4 photos
Steve Grover, Powell River
Oct 17:
6:48 pm: Report via John Lewis (Discovery Marine Safaris) of Killer Whales northbound in Seymour Narrows in the dark.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Oct 14:
9:25 am: 4 Orca southbound, one big fin and three small fins, near No Name Creek in Campbell River. Not sure who they are. Leaving the scene.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 14:
10:15 am: Orca at Powell River, southbound. There’s at least three. Saw one big spy hop. Picked up Susan MacKay and headed to beach to see about photos.
Steve Grover, Powell River.
Oct 14:
11:00 am: The 4 southbound Transient Bigg’s Orca are already by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River, still southbound through big waves.
5:45 pm: Orca northbound at Powell River. Haven’t seen them yet but was told there were at least two from Jean via Judy Brant.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Oct 13:
10:10 am: Four Orca milling by Albion Point and just below Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. They were there last evening too. One big male and two calf-size in the mix.
Bill Taylor, Powell River.
Oct 12:
9:28 am: Unconfirmed report of Orca following a mass pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins in the mist off Separation Head, Quadra Island. Described as big black dorsal fins sliding through the mist behind the Dolphins and heading in the same direction, possibly southbound.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales
October, 2014 – 5 photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Oct 12:
3:22 pm: Six or more Orca including two big males and two calves southbound by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.
Jim Southern, Powell River.
Oct 12:
4:10 pm: Orca off Whalen Road area in Powell River- at least one male, 3-4 females, a juvenile and possibly a calf. They were moving very slowly, circling, breaching and tail lobbing. Watched for about twenty minutes before they moved out of sight towards Myrtle Rocks.
Liz Kennedy, Powell River.
Oct 11:
9:34 am: Transient Bigg’s Orca by Whaletown on Cortes Island.
(from radio)
Oct 11:
9:35 am: Think radio call out (above) said they were heading towards Campbell River.
3:07 pm: These, (the Orca at Francisco Point) are the Transient Bigg’s Orca T002Cs and either T100’s or T049A’s.
3:59 pm: Nine animals. Will confirm later but best educated guess is Transient Bigg’s T100’s.
4:27 pm: Orca now south west bound off the green can buoy and have split into two groups.
7:51 pm: Just going through pics and it was actually the Transient Bigg’s T049A’s with the T002C’s today.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Oct 11:
11:11 am: Two Transient Bigg’s Orca at Burdwood Bay, Read Island, southbound. One male, one female. Actually there are more like 5 animals.
11:20 am: Now there are 8 Orca southbound on the Read Island side of Burdwood Bay, one small orange calf in the pod.
1:15 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca at the Quadra Island scallop farm, southbound at 3 knots.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 11:
2:22 pm: Orca about one mile north of Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Heriot Bay side.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Bigg’s Orca
October 14, 2014 – 2 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Oct 18:
12:25 pm: Orca off Hein Bank, in Juan de Fuca Strait, heading west. (no numbers or identification if Transient Bigg’s or Southern Resident Orca provided)
Cedric Towers, Vancouver Whale Watching.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Oct 19:
12:00 pm: Spotted blows of one, possibly two Humpback whales in lumpy seas by Powell River.
12:45 pm: Judy Brant called to say that her sister Jean had spotted one Humpback whale southbound in front of her place. Judy and I went to Grief Point and Myrtle Rocks and saw blows and a back but no flukes. The humpback was making good time against tide, wind and seas.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Oct 14:
9:10 am: I spotted a Humpback Whale by Maud Island south of the Winchelsea Islands.
Kerry Jenkins, via email.
Oct 13:
2:45 pm: One Humpback whale near Sonora Resort, southbound.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Oct 11: Humpback whale northbound in front of Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage.
Carl "Scholar Holler."
Humpback Whale(s) in the Surf
October 19, 2014 – 2 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
October 19:
5:04 pm 50 Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Race Point, Seymour Narrows westbound.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
Oct 18:
9:28 am: 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at McMullen Point, Quadra Island, milling.
4:35 pm: 300 Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound in Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
October 18:
12:49 pm: 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins westbound by the Maude Island, Seymour Narrows.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
Oct 17:
1:45 pm: Couple of hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound by the Maude Island light, Seymour Narrows.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris.
Oct 16:
10:11 am: 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Calm Channel, SW of Raza Island, milling, along with one lonesome Sea Lion.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 16:
10:57 am: 200 – ish Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Arran Point/ Ritchie Brothers Resort, south side of Arran Rapids, reportedly right now.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
Oct 16:
11:30 am: 30 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the top end of Cortes Island, milling, and I think that same lonely Sea Lion that Garry had this morning.
12:27 pm: 300 Pacific White Sided Dolphins now heading for Lewis Channel, southbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
October 15:
8 am My family and I just saw a pod of 100+ Pacific White Sided Dolphins at the left side of Rocky Point Beach, Nanaimo. There were at least 100 of them jumping all around.
Luke Ashton, Nanaimo
Oct 15:
9:20 am: 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Deer Passage, between West Redonda Island and Raza Island, milling.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 15:
9:30 am: Dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at McMullen Point, Discovery Passage northbound.
4:48 pm: Half a dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at White Rock Passage.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Oct 15:
11:12 am: 12-15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. Just easily rolling along.
Jim Southern, Powell River.
Oct 14:
12:42 pm: 12 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Jimmy Judd Island, westing.
Aaron Nagler, Sonora Lodge.
Oct 14:
3:50 pm: Couple hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Chatham Point, at the junction of Discovery Passage and Johnstone Strait.
(from radio)
Oct 14:
4:30 pm: 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Chatham Point, milling.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 13:
1:30 pm: 50 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at Kanish Bay, in Discovery Passage.
(from call)
Oct 13:
3:59 pm: 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling in Seymour Narrows.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 12:
9:28 am: Reports from the mist at Separation Head, Discovery Passage from Carl indicate that a massive pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins is foraging, possibly southbound. As well, Carl swore he saw big black dorsal fins sliding through the mist behind the Dolphins and heading in the same direction. He could not confirm nor deny their presence.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Oct 12:
10:00 am: 40 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Henrietta Point heading into Bute Inlet.
4:22 pm: 300 Pacific White Sided Dolphins frolicking at Granite Point, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 12:
12:39 pm: 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Granite Point, northwest corner of Quadra Island.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
2014 – 2 photos
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Oct 12:
1:56 pm: Lots of Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of Kanish Bay, Quadra Island.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
Oct 12:
4:57 pm: Leaving the Pacific White Sided Dolphins now, they are in the same place (Kanish Bay.)
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Oct 11:
9:00 am: Super pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins just north of Brown’s Bay near Campbell River right now.From a fishing guide.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Oct 11:
9:20 am: 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling north of Brown’s Bay.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 11:
11:45 am: The Pacific White Sided Dolphins are at Point 45,n Discovery Passage now, no direction.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
October 11:
2:53 pm 300 Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging at Otter Cove, by Chatham Point.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures
DALL’S PORPOISE
Oct 14:
1:36 pm: Half a dozen Dall’s Porpoise at Hole in the Wall, between Springer Point and Etta Point, Okisollo Channel.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
Oct 13:
2:10 pm: 4 Dall’s Porpoise at Clipper Point, in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Oct 12:
1:53 pm: A dozen playful Dall’s Porpoise at Davis Point, entrance to Thurston Bay in Nodales Channel.
2:08 pm: Another dozen Dall’s Porpoise at John’s Point, at the top of Nodales Channel, East Thurlow Island.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.
LINKS
A wonderful experience for passengers on a whale watching boat in California as they are surrounded by a huge pod of 60 to 100 Sperm whales. Excellent video provided by their underwater camera as well.
Some footage of Northern Resident Killer Whales being filmed from above by a drone camera:
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
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