Grey Whales, Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, Humpback ‘KC’, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and a few Porpoise
Grey Whales are not a common sight in Georgia Strait and even rarer near the mainland side of the Strait, but we can confirm the brief sighting. This means that they are actually returning through the inside waters as well as the West Coast of Vancouver Island. There have been a number of Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Killer Whales throughout the area and a very well known Humpback known as ‘KC’ or ‘Kelp Creature’ was back in Discovery Passage. Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Porpoise have been seen in various locations also.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
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Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales
May 2, 2015
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW!
Prizes are listed below our Report.
Raffle tickets will be available at our information tables at:
Town Centre Mall, Powell River: Thursdays and Fridays in May
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Trail Bay Mall, SecheltMay 28 & 29
Campbell River: May 28 at Quality Foods
Other locations and times will be posted as soon as we confirm
And on lineusing our Donate button – see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ORCA
May 4:
5:30 pm: 3-4 Orca northbound in Discovery Passage between the Tyee Fishing Pier in Campbell River and Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island.
7:17 pm The 4 Transient Bigg’s Orca are just coming up to Seymour Narrows, Northbound. There’s a Mom and calf together with two other, either females or juvenile males. Very clean dorsal fins on all of them.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 4:
5:40 pm: Four Orca, two calves, one is is small and still quite yellow and the rest all have small dorsals. (referring to sighting in report above.)
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 2:
10:55 am: At least 7 Transient Bigg’s Orca at Seymour Narrows, southbound.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 2:
12:36 pm: Left Transient Orca at Whiskey Point on Quadra Island, southbound doing 5 knots. So far have identified the Transient Bigg’s T86A’s and T18.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 2:
2:40 pm: Leaving the Transient Bigg’s Orca between Mitlenatch and Sentry Shoal angling towards Grant’s Reef off Savary Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales
May 1 & 2, 2015 – 4 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 2:
3:07 pm: Left the six Transient Bigg’s Orca southbound 1.5 miles south of Mitlenatch Island heading towards the Grant’s Reef, Harwood Area.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 1:
7:45 am: Transient Bigg’s Orca in front of Coast Marina, Campbell River, southbound mid channel.
8:05 am: Another pod of Transients on the Quathiaski Cover (Quadra Island) side of Discovery Passage. Will get count.
8:10 am: There are four Transient Bigg’s Orca, three females and one young adolescent. They are southbound now at Whiskey Point on the Quadra Island side of the channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
May 1:
9:00 am: Transient Bigg’s Orca now off Gowland Island just north of April Point on Quadra Island. Can’t determine a direction.
11:40 am: Left the Transient Bigg’s Orca off Cape Mudge lighthouse.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 1:
9:45 am:Transient Bigg’s Orca at April Point on Quadra Island southbound.
11:32 am: Leaving Transient Orca at Cape Mudge Quadra island mid channel, southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 30:
Eight Transient Bigg’s Orca off Bamfield, Vancouver Island, heading east. They killed a Harbour Porpoise.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
April 30:
10:28 am: Five Transient Bigg’s Orca, all small fins, at Camp Point in Race Passage off Vancouver Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Spyhopping Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale
May 4, 2015 – photos were still being sorted
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April 29:
6:00 am: Five Transient Bigg’s Orca at Chatham Point. This information from my buddy Lance, the crab fisherman.
11:59 am: Small group of Transient Orca heading south mid channel from Chatham Point light station, at the junction of Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage. Thanks to Chatham Point Lightkeepers – (relayed)
12:10 pm: Garry Henkel has what looks like Transient Bigg’s Orca T002cs and T036s just below Chatham. They’re mid channel, Southbound. (Relayed)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April 29:
12:36 pm: One very orange calf in group of Transient Bigg’s Orca by Chatham Point. Garry has counted nine of them. They are still southbound and almost to Granite Point, on Quadra Island. Looks like the same pod I had at Read Island the other day. 3 calves including one quite orange and 1 big male in the group.
1:46 pm They are just South of Kanish Bay, mid-channel Southbound at between 6 and 8 kts. Leaving the scene.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 29:
2:19 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca still southbound, now at Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island. Departing scene.
6:55 pm After reviewing the photos, it was the T002C’s and T36’s.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 28:
3:00 pm: About a dozen Transient Bigg’s Orca eastbound off Hickey Point, west of Kelsey Bay in Johnstone Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April 27:
Just got a report about some Transient Bigg’s Orca seen earlier today. T036’s and T049B’s heading south of Clover Point off Victoria.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales attack Sea Lion
Video Clip – John Dove, Texada Island
April 25:
The Texada Trekkers were hiking south of Favada Point when 6 or more Orca started milling around not far out. I managed to get video of the activity (see embedded video clip). I see you have already posted some of the photos that Mich Macauley got at the same time. In my video I can see that the Orca had attacked and injured a Seal or small dark California Sea Lion and it was briefly swimming on the surface until a large Orca grabbed it and dived. A few seconds later the Orca did a 360 degree roll with just part of it’s body out of the water. The Orca pod eventually headed south towards Gillies Bay.
John Dove, Gillies Bay.
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
these are all presumed to be Transient Bigg’s
May 2:
7:35 pm: Three Orca, including a male and calf northbound by Albion Point, Powell River.
Nina Falls, Powell River
May 1:
We saw a big pod of Orca Whales swim past the Surf Pub on Gabriola Island tonight. There were at least two big males a lot of smaller ones and at least 2 babies. As always a pleasure to watch. We managed to snap this one picture from a distance. Hopefully it helps you identify them. The fin looks scared so you will probably know who it is.
Angela Privé, Gabriola Island
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Orca with fresh looking scars
(we are hoping for higher resolution photos to take a better look – SM)
May 1, 2015
Angela Privé, Gabriola Island
April 28:
5:50 pm: 4-5 Orca north Northwest off Powell River, Sunshine Coast. I’m looking out from VanAnda.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island
April 28:
6:00 pm: I just picked them up (the 4-5 Orca just reported above) from my deck. They are against the shore of Texada Island and angling towards Rebecca Rocks.
6:10 pm: There may be six of them, just doing a count. There is one large male and a smaller juvenile.
6:15 pm: I can see somewhere between five and seven Orca.
6:54 pm The 5-7 Orca have now passed Rebecca Rocks and are heading towards Vancouver Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April 28:
6:23 pm: There is definitely one small calf and at least 3 Orca behind the Texada Island ferry, turning into Blubber Bay.
Dave Carbery, Texada Island
April 28:
11:50 am: 5 or 6 Orca heading north past Nine Foot Bay. Or Donkey Bay.
12:23 pm: Correction, only four Orca, leaving them now northbound approaching Elk Bay, just north of Campbell River. Leaving the scene.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 24:
8:30 am: We spotted 3 Orca off Grief Point, Powell River. They were close to shore and heading south.
Kerry Jones, Powell River.
HUMPBACK WHALES
Humpback known as ‘KC’
Susan MacKay, SG Images
April 29:
10:50 am: Breaching Humpback whale just above Race Point, in Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 29:
11:20 am: Presumably a Humpback between Powell River and Harwood Island. Saw a couple of windblown blows but no back or tail yet.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April 29:
11:38 am: Looks like two Humpback whales at Race Point, not just one. One of them looks small.
11:56 am: Humpback whales at Seymour Narrows northbound. Leaving the scene.
2:19 pm: Humpback whale southbound by April Point on the Quadra Island side of Discovery Passage, only saw one so far.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
April 28:
3:35 pm: Humpback Whale resting between Race Point and the Walcan building near Campbell River. ID confirmed as K.C.!
Roger McDonnell, Stubbs Island Whale Watching
April 27:
1:14 pm: Large Humpback Whale sighted at the Maude Island light. No direction given, sorry. From my brother in law on Tug. ( Thinking this could be K.C but not yet confirmed. S.M.)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
GREY WHALES
Grey Whale off Tofino
Reported in previous update
Paul Hibbert, Sayward – 2 photos
May 1:
2:37 pm: Definitely one Grey whale in front of Powell River. Tough to spot.
It is seldom we see Grey Whales on the mainland side of Georgia Strait, but they appear to be returning.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
April 30:
10:00 am: I am seeing two distant blows. I believe them to be Grey Whales, not Humpbacks as I thought before, close by Rebecca Rocks off Powell River. They are moving slowly and I can’t tell if they are doing circles or angling out towards the Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May 4:
3:25 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 3:
11:29 am: About 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Aran Rapids in Bute Inlet.
(from radio)
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
May, 2015 – 3 Photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 3:
12:46 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Bute Inlet.
2:23 pm: About a dozen Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Big Bay, Stuart Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 3:
2:17 pm: 100 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
April 28:
3:00 pm: 15 Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Granite Bay, Quadra Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
April 26:
I saw a Dolphin just south of Wilson Creek off Browning Road on the Sunshine Coast a few days ago. Yesterday morning my sister and our neighbours saw what they thought to be a Dolphin in the same area. When I saw it it was moving very slowly and I thought it may have been ill. When my neighbours saw it it appeared to be struggling and he thought he saw two fins. Both sightings were very close to shore. We were wondering if perhaps this was a pregnant one and it was giving birth in front of our place? Is this the time of year they have babies?
Another friend told me that there were a number of people at Davis Bay ooohing over a Dolphin. Have you had any other reports? Keep up the good work!
Georgena Good, Sechelt.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
April 28, 2015 – 1 Photo
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
HARBOUR PORPOISE/ DALL’S PORPOISE
May 4:
3:20 pm: One dozen Dall’s Porpoise at Arran Point, Stuart Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 2:
One Porpoise ( not sure of species) off Mitlenatch Island, in Georgia Strait.
(from radio)
LINKS
An alarming increase in the number of whales becoming entangled in fishing gear:
J-Pod’s Southern resident Killer Whale known as "Granny" is causing problems for SeaWorld. Here’s why:
Some great shots of the new J Pod babies having fun around the San Juan Islands:
Oregon and Washington have temporarily suspended sea lion trapping operations at Bonneville Dam:
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
ALL PRIZES ARE FOR TWO PEOPLE EACH
Early Bird Draw June 21, 2015:
1. Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours PLUSLarge Print of Award Winning Photo as seen on the cover of BC Magazine Fall 2014
2. Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour PLUSreturn BC Ferries Pass including car
3. Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Tour
Final Draw July 26, 2015 at Powell River SeaFair:
1. Pacific Coastal Return Flight to/from Vancouver – Comox or Powell River PLUSVancouver Whale Watch Tour
2. Campbell River Whale Watching Tour PLUS 2 Nights Accommodation
3. Discovery Marine Safaris Tour
4. Eagle Eye Adventure Tour
Full 2015 Summer Raffle Details available at: https://whalesanddolphinsbc.com/events-and-raffles-2/2015-raffle/
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
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We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
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