Killer Whales, Humpbacks, Pacific White Sided Dolphins & Entangled Sea Lion
It’s wonderful to have Humpback Whales back in the upper Georgia Strait area. We are expecting more reports, as they should be coming back and travelling to their summer feeding grounds. A number of them have been using the inside waters rather than the West Coast of Vancouver Island over the past number of years. Killer Whale and Pacific White Sided Dolphin sightings reports are increasing with the onset of the whale watching tours and a few great spotters / reporters out there. We look forward to hearing more from all of you! Every Sightings Report is Valuable!
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle: Time to get in on the Early Bird Draw for a chance to WIN from the many fantastic prizes!
We are raising funds for our live feed web camera and hydrophone systems and our other project costs. As a non-profit society, we count on your generous support through Donations and our Raffles. All of us are non-paid volunteers and the Raffle prizes are 100% donated to help us achieve our Society mandate, goals and continue to keep everyone informed.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Transient Bigg’s Orca believed to be the T073C’s
April 3, 2015 – 2 photos
Emma Jayne, EmJay Photography, Port Alice
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
presumed to be Tranisent Bigg’s Orca
but unconfirmed
April 9:
2 Orca Eastbound approximately 7 miles east east of Gabriola Passage spotted flying from Vancouver airport to Nanaimo via Gabriola Passage. Seen just before leaving the Vancouver airport control zone. Gabriola Passage runs between Gabriola Island and Valdes Island in the Strait of Georgia.
Michael Grattan, Harbour Air
April 9:
9 am: Orca reported at Fawn Bluff, on the east side of Bute Inlet, no direction or numbers.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Tours
April 8:
3:46 pm: At least 5 Orca and one hundred plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
April 7:
3:49 pm: Orca in Toba Inlet, right in front of the Lodge, just hanging around there.
5:42 pm: There are about 6 or 8 Orca just milling around in front of the Lodge in Toba Inlet, which is entered at the north end of East Redonda Island.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
April 7:
Lone male Orca breaching in Blind Channel, (also called Mayne Passage) between East and West Thurlow Islands
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 5:
11:18 am: Orca in Seymour Narrows, Campbell River on Vancouver Island, northbound.
There are three small fins now, southbound, bucking the tide towards Seymour Narrows.
12:07 pm Make that four fins! All small, still southbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
April 5:
12:58 pm: Leaving 4 Orca headed south past the Spit on Vancouver Island shore.
1:26 pm: The Orca are flying. They are past the Cape Mudge Light House on Quadra Island already.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 4:
7:30 pm: Orca mid strait in front of Campbell River.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ORCA
April 7:
(Received report 9:45 pm) of Transient Bigg’s Orca T049As and T123s off Shaw Island heading East. Killed one Harbour Porpoise.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
April 4:
Transient Bigg’s Orca known as T124C has been seen heading south in San Juan Channel, which is down between San Juan Island and Shaw Island.
3:48 pm: Five Transient Bigg’s Orca off Henry Island, which is just off the northwest shore of San Juan Island, heading north. NO I.D.’s yet. They harassed a Steller Sea Lion.
4:00 pm: They have been identified as Transient Bigg’s T65A’s.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
April 3:
1:34 pm: We had a pod of 3 Orca in the Inlet here at Port Alice yesterday (April 3rd) in the early afternoon. Two adults and one smaller juvenile. They were close to the boat dock at Jeune Landing hunting a Sea Lion. Not sure if they had success or not, but they spent a good half hour trying and then swam further up the Inlet. I lost track of them after they went behind the Friggin Islands across from the pier in Port Alice.(from photos appear to be the T073C’s – SM)
Emma Jayne, Port Alice.
Transient Bigg’s Orca believed to be the T073C’s
April 3, 2015 – 4 photos
Emma Jayne, EmJay Photography, Port Alice
HUMPBACK WHALES
April 8:
9:07 am: Report of a Humpback Whale in Menzies Bay north of Campbell River an hour ago. No direction given.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 8:
9:30 am Lone Humpback Whale is Southbound by Duncan Bay now. It’s a very small animal, not longer than 30 feet.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
April 7:
2:05 pm: Humpback Whale breaching just southwest of Helmcken Island, in Johnstone Strait near Kelsey Bay. First Humpback report of 2015 in the upper Georgia Strait to Johnstone Strait area!
(from Radio)
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
April 8: Approximately one hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet, as well as around 5 Orca.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
April 7:
1:10 pm: Between 600 – 1000 Pacific White Sided Dolphins between White Rock Passage and Hole in the Wall on the Bute Inlet side of Calm Channel.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 7:
1:50 pm: 300 Plus Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
April 7:
3:36 pm: Leaving Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Johnstone Bluff in Bute Inlet.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 6:
10:35 am: 6 – 7 Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Lund – no direction yet. Make that 20+ they’re over by Major Rock!
Gordie Coles, Savary / Sevilla Island
April 5:
2:55 pm: 300 Pacific White Sided Dolphins off the mouth of Bute Inlet. Very spread out and feeding.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Entangled California Sea Lion
We received a call regarding this entangled California Sea Lion after he was seen for a couple of days at the Powell River Mill staging pond. We hoped to monitor him until some help could be arranged, but he has not been seen / reported since we were contacted. This photo is a reminder to PLEASE ensure that ALL packaging ties and plastic can holders and anything with a loop is cut before safely disposing. You can see that the Sea Lion has grown into the packaging tie which is now cutting into his neck.
Entangled California Sea Lion
April 4, 2014
Shane Gustafson, Powell River
LINKS
From BBC – Do Whales have Graveyards where they prefer to die? http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150225-do-dying-whales-go-to-graveyards
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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