Killer Whales Popping Up Everywhere, Humpbacks, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, and Porpoise
A timely reminder as Summer boating season kicks in of the need to be cautious and slow down around any type of marine life. We are great advocates of courteous behaviour on the water and off. Remember NEWS when you are in the vicinity of whales: N=Neutral E=Enjoy W=Wait S=Slow. Slow is the operative word. If you see a blow, go slow to avoid endangering the whales or yourself.
Orca have been popping up everywhere. ‘KC’ the Humpback BCY 0291 is the only confirmed Humpback Whale in the upper Georgia Strait area, although we keep expecting to see more. Pacific White Sided Dolphin numbers are down currently, perhaps scattering to smaller groups due to Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale encounters. Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise are showing themselves a bit more now, or perhaps they’re just being reported more. A number of dead animals have been reported and the entangled sea lion is back in Powell River. And do we have Photos and Links for you!
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
Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report.
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW! – June 21, 2015
see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details – Tickets only $5 each.
Raffle tickets will be available at our information tables at:
Town Centre Mall, Powell River: (Most) Thursdays and Fridays in May
Lund Shellfish Festival, Lund HarbourMay 23 & 24 – See you there!
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
T049A Matriline
May 14, 2015
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ORCA
May 18:
5:15 pm (call came in after 6 pm) My sister was on the ferry out of Powell River to Comox and just after leaving the dock they had to stop. Aparently there was a pod a Orca right there. No numbers or direction.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island
May 18:
5:48 pm Just spotted at least 3 Orca off Powell River. They’re mid Malaspina Strait very slowly Southbound. Definitely one big male in the pod.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
May 18:
5:50 pm: Looks like 3 or 4 Orca milling or feeding out in front of Powell River towards Texada Island.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River
May 17:
3:27 pm: Reports from a friend on Saltspring Island, two gangs of Transient Orca heading north, lots of playing and breaches.
6:00 pm: Report from M.V. Horizons of 3 Killer whales, one big fin, at the head of Teakerne Arm right now. Just milling, but .08 nautical miles from the head of the Arm right now.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 16:
6:00 pm: The Orca were heading northwards, investigating the docks at Bliss Landing, inside the Copeland Islands. They continued north, following a small boat as they passed Bliss Landing.
Fern Bradley, Bliss Landing.
May 16:
6:30 pm: Small pod of Orca heading north into Thulin Passage. Looked like one big male with at least three females with what might be a young one. They were traveling fast.
Mary Tilberg.
May 16:
6:45 pm: Just looking out of our window and saw four small Orca northbound up Thulin Passage. Looked to be a large male, a smaller whale which I guess is a female, and two smaller whales. They came north to the end of the Ragged (Copeland) Islands, then, as there were two boats stopped waiting for them, they dove and were not seen again.
John Bowles, Bliss Landing
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales
May 16, 2015
John Bowles, Bliss Landing
May 15:
10:00 am: Saw these two Orca at Blueback Beach, north Nanaimo, headed south.
Patrick Beaton.
May 15:
10:15 am: At least three Orca tight to the shore southbound by Westview Harbour in Powell River.
Caroline Stoddart, Powell River
May 14:
9:25 am: Orca, 4 for sure, slowly southbound in Seymour Narrows.
(from radio)
May 14:
9:30 am: ORCA ALERT! Report from Sharkey who is with Orca in Seymour Narrows, southbound to Race Point. Possible Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s.
11:16 am: These are possible Transient Bigg’s Orca T049A’s but haven’t had a very good look. Moving with the tide at 9 knots, boats all over them.
12:03 pm: So, confirmed as Transient Bigg’s T049A’s, they are still southbound, at Willow Point reef now, south of Campbell River, heading down the Vancouver Island shore, about 1.25 miles off Vancouver Island.
12:30 pm We’re 1025 nautical miles east of Willow Point Reef now. Still heading South-East.
12:53 pm: They are two nautical miles off the Vancouver Island shoreline heading south east. Up to 15 minute dives. Will be leaving the scene in 15 minutes or so.
1:13 pm: They are 1.5 nautical miles off Khusam Point, still generally heading south east to east. Still taking long dives and running at around 5 – 6 knots.
9:47 pm: report from a southern whale watching friend: These guys were all off Nanaimo today, left them heading back your way! (Northbound) There were 25 – 30 of them, Transient Bigg’s Orca T100’s, T124A’s, some T124’s, T37, T36B’s, T101’s, T23’s, T86A’s, and more.
Here are some shots from today’s encounter with the Transient Bigg’s T049A1’s. Thanks to the Oak Bay Hurricane for the info this morning.
I was informed of the finding of 5 Orca coming southbound through Seymour Narrows at 9:15 am. I launched the boat and proceeded out of the marina and found them just at the mouth of the Campbell River. I was with them until about 1.75 nautical miles S/E of Salmon Point in Georgia Strait headed S/E to E down the Vancouver Island shoreline. There were long travel dives of over 13-14 minutes, shorter resting dives, and some speed swimming with shorter 5-7 minute dives. No hunting was observed. They actually bypassed a small group of Harbour Porpoise approximately 11 feet away. What a fantastic encounter, they continued to travel south in the passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales T049A’s
May 14, 2015 – 3 photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
May 14:
10:30 am: Transient Bigg’s Orca are now mid channel in front of Copper Bluff.
11:00 am: Left Orca at Tyee Pool, Campbell River. Nick is on scene.
1:59 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca still heading south, southeast, nearing Elma Bay now., about two miles offshore.
3:18 pm: Leaving the Transients southbound two miles out from Black Creek.
Jerry. Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 13:
9:55 am: Reports from the Best Western Hotel of Orca northbound center Strait in front of the Rotary Park in Campbell River. Unconfirmed.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 13:
1:00 pm: Mario has found Orca in Bute Inlet. One big bull so far.
1:35pm: Orca is at Moh Creek in Bute Inlet heading in.
3:58 pm: The Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s are just past Moh Creek now heading out of Bute Inlet. Jos is with them now.
They tossed a Dolphin about 20 feet into the air. There was a handful of Dolphins around. That was at Amor Point.It was impressive! It was the Momma doing that. She shot up about 10 feet in the air.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Transient Bigg’s T049A’s
May 14, 2015 – 5 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 13:
5:17 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C coming up on Lawrence Point, Bute Inlet, still moving south east. They gave us a really awesome show.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 12:
10:00 am: 5 Orca at Brown’s Bay southbound. One big fin, one calf.
11:02: There is a group of 6 Orca near Duncan Bay on the Vancouver Island side, they are on the hunt.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 12:
10:25 am: Another, second, group of Orca coming down south also, about 6 of them. At Seymour Narrows. Looks like Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s.
10:47 am: Two groups together now,looks like it’s 8 or 9 animals, I am sure about Transient Bigg’s T002C’s.
10:55 am: They are going towards the Walcan Building on the Quadra Island side of Discovery Passage.
4:00 pm: Jerry left the Orca in Baker Passage, between Cortez and Hernando Islands.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 12:
11:24 am: With the Transient Bigg’s Orca T036B’s.
11:44 am: Looks like Transient Bigg’s T037A’s with T036, T036B, T036B1 and a new calf. Then Jos is back by Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island with Transient Bigg’s T002C’s. I am with the lead animals coming up to Cape Mudge Village now.
12:40 pm: Haven’t seen the Humpback Whale tht was reported, but Transient Bigg’s Orca T036B’s and T037A’s just killed a Harbour Porpoise. And in the midst of the kill they also killed a Common Murre. Poor guy.
3:30 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s are with Eagle Eye. And the Transients T36’s and T37’s gave me the slip completely somewhere about 2 miles off Mitlenatch Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient Bigg’s T002C’s
May 8, 2015 – 4 photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
May 12:
12:28 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca and a Humpback whale off Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, near the red can buoy. Looking with binoculars now.
12:39 pm: The Humpback whale is now closer to the red can buoy, and the Orca have moved south towards Mitlenatch Island.
Tara Bladon, Campbell River.
May 12:
1:48 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s have turned and are heading northbound past the green can buoy near Francisco Point on Quadra Island.
4:00 pm: Leaving Transients heading eastbound now towards Baker Passage between Cortez Island and Hernando Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 12:
8:43 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T093 and T097 last sighted heading north in Rosario Strait.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
May 12:
At least 5 or 6 Orca about 2 km out in front of Davis Bay today. They were very active, breaching and tail slapping. There was one big male in the bunch, perhaps enjoying a sea lion as they were about 5 km. west of White Islets where I counted at least 80 sea lions the previous week.
There were a couple in Sechelt Inlet 2 days ago also. There may have been a little one too.
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt
May 12: Rec’d detailed info and photos we’d like to share regarding May 8:
Evening encounter with the T002C’s turned out to be absolutely magical. Having Yukon (Nick’s dog) on the boat with me seems to make the Orca more curious, and I really believe that the T002C’s have grown to know us and to know Yukon. They will switch actions and come right to the boat to check us out. The one pic of Lucy rolling under the stern of the boat, Yukon was right above her……..she came to look.
I spent an hour with them during a seal kill. Have confirmed the seal kill by the video I mananged to capture of Tumbo beneath me carrying his piece of the kill. A large piece of the seals blubber was his share.
The capture of Rocky spyhopping and the one of him spyhopping with Tasu are two of my absolute favorite pics of them. Amazing light, crystal clear…..beautiful.
I spent an hour with them during a seal kill. Have confirmed the seal kill by the video I mananged to capture of Tumbo beneath me carrying his piece of the kill. A large piece of the seals blubber was his share.
The capture of Rocky spyhopping and the one of him spyhopping with Tasu are two of my absolute favorite pics of them. Amazing light, crystal clear…..beautiful.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 8:
Between Saltery Bay campground and Nelson Island on the Sunshine Coast a pod of 4 or 5 Orca went past heading north. One had a real big fin. They were too far away to get a good photo.
Barb Rees.
Orca off Saltery Bay campground
May 8, 2015 – 2 photos
Barb Rees
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
(presumed to be Transient Bigg’s)
May 18:
3:00 pm: Large pod of Orca off Point Holmes, local name for Cape Lazo, at the tip of the Comox peninsula, Vancouver Island. No direction at this time.
Thanks to Eric Green, Powell River C.G. who also heard the radio transmission and let us know the location which we could not pick up.- SM
May 17:
10:46 am 4 Orca southbound off Anacortes Island.
6 pm Also 10 Orca in Penn Cove in Puget Sound, southbound.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
May 17:
Between 7 – 8 pm a pod of 4 Orca and two stragglers behind were swimming north towards Dodd’s Narrows. They were off the west coast of Decourcey, Link and Mudge Islands swimming north in Stuart Channel. I guess the whales have been in these parts the previous two days. They were more to the south as we could see 6 whale watching boats moving south of Boat Harbour both Friday and Saturday (May 15 and 16 ) it seems herding the whales. Occasionally saw the fins and spouts between the boats.
Janette Dyck.
May 16:
This is Stefan from DFO. Talked to you a while back at Pedder Bay about Transient Killer Whale data. I’m working up in Ladysmith today and there have been a few sightings of killers locally today. They are in north Stuart Channel/Dodd’s Narrows area. A bunch of people have seen them. The pod is about 4 whales and 1 or 2 of them are smaller ones/juveniles. Not sure if they are Transients or not. Just passing this on. They were headed north, I believe. Also just talked to another fisherman and his wife works for BC Ferries and she has seen Killer Whales off Gabriola Island lately. I guess she works on the Departure Bay ferry going to the mainland. The killers were in the Strait of Georgia east of Gabriola Island. That was just recently as well.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
HUMPBACK WHALES
May 16:
I work for BC Ferries on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay run. Yesterday we saw 3 or 4 Humpback whales about 4.5 miles north east of Active Pass. I could not determine the direction of travel at the time.
Aaron Sigurgeirson.
May 13:
9:26 am: Sounded like a Humpback an hour ago southbound by April Point on Quadra Island.
(from radio)
May 13:
10:20 am: There is a Humpback northbound at Big Rock, near Campbell River. Leif is on scene.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 13:
10:32 am: "KC" is here! But I think there are two Humpbacks because one has a gash and one doesn’t appear to have one.
11:05 am: Looks like just one Humpback whale now – "K.C" Right in mid Strait in Discovery Passage now.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 13:
The Humpback I had yesterday morning was not "K.C", so would make sense that there are two around.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 13:
11:56 am: Humpback whale "KC" is mid strait in Discovery Passage between the red can buoy and the Light house at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 12:
9:00 am: Humpback at Duncan Bay, north of Campbell River, mid channel, southbound.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 12:
12:28 pm: Humpback whale near the red can buoy near Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island. Seeing it through my binoculars. There are also Orca in the same area.
12:38 pm: Yes, see them again. The Humpback is closer to the red can, the Orca are further south, towards Mitlenatch Island.
12:50 pm: There’s a chance that there’s two Humpback Whales, but one for sure.
4:04 pm: Humpback whale "KC" is still kicking around here, lots of zig zagging and long dives! He is slowly heading south (for now!) from Tyee Spit in Campbell River. I finally got a good view of him from the beach. Far away, and not on film; two breaches in a row…awesome!
Was really neat to sit alone quietly on the beach while this guy came by 🙂
Tara Bladon, Campbell River.
Humpback Whale BCY0291 ‘KC’
May 12, 2015 – 4 photos
Tara Bladon, Campbell River
May 12:
1:00 – 1:30pm: My husband and I saw a whale just as it was diving. We had just left Patos Island by sailboat heading to Blaine Washington and were only a couple of kilometers from Patos. I thought at first it was a Harbour Porpoise but quickly realized the distance was too great for a porpoise to look so big. I can’t identify the species of whale and can only say at first it looked like a porpoise as appeared to have a fin on it’s back. It dove and we didn’t see it again. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. It was very exciting though. We hope to report lots more sightings, with luck, in the future.
Joanne and Uke Lorenz.
May 12:
1:48 pm: Humpback whale now southbound mid strait right off the Cape Mudge Light house on Quadra Island.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 12:
2:28 pm: The Humpback whale is now northbound coming up to Whiskey Point on Quadra Island. I can see it from Fisherman’s Wharf.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 12:
2:50 pm: Found him finally! Humpback whale "KC" is northbound abeam the the Campbell River Spit, mid channel.
3:13 pm: "K.C" is in major zig zag mode. One dive at April Point. Next puff and he is across the channel at Orange Point still north bound. Am leaving him now.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 12:
4:00 pm: With Humpback whale in front of the Campbell River Marina.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
May 17:
11:27 am: 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Browns Bay Report from Sharkey.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 16:
10:19 am: About 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphins feeding in front of Brown’s Bay, north of Campbell River.
Jerry. Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 13:
3:58 pm: The Transient Bigg’s Orca tossed a Dolphin about 20 feet into the air. There was a handful of Dolphins around Amor Point, Bute Inlet. It was impressive! It was the Momma Orca doing that. She shot up about 10 feet in the air.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
May 16:
2:09 pm: 4 Harbour Porpoise at Lawrence Point in Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 14:
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm: My mom and I were walking on the Cordova Bay Beach, near Victoria, just north of the Beach House late this morning and early this afternoon and spotted what we thought at first was a Pacific White Sided Dolphin. After some additional checking we think it was a Harbour Porpoise based on its size and movement. The Porpoise entered the bay from the north east side traveling south west and was cutting back and forth across the same area just south of the Beach House. As it zig zagged over the course of about half an hour, it moved further and further south and south east. The Porpoise was traveling alone as far as we could tell. It had no interactions with people or boats.
Jacquelyn Novak.
DALL’S PORPOISE
May 17:
3:29 pm: 8 Dall’s Porpoise at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 16:
1:59 pm: 10 active Dall’s Porpoise at Owen Point.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 16:
3:21 pm: A dozen Porpoise at Hill Island – presume they are Dall’s.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
May 15:
4:56 pm: Half a dozen Dall’s Porpoise at Old Church House, Sonora Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 12:
12:39 pm: A dozen Dall’s Porpoise in Denham Bay, across from Sonora Island.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 11:
While sailing we sighted (seemingly) many Porpoises heading north eastward in the Georgia Strait toward Howe Sound. (Location map indicates they were approximately half way between Bowen Island and Vancouver as well as similar distance off Point Atkinson. – SM)There seemed to be many in the area, not the same group moving around. It seemed like three or four groups, rather than one group. I’d guess each group was made up of 2-4 Porpoises. Not certain of the numbers, of course, but they were jumping all over the place! They were quite small and at least 50 – 100 metres off the boat, off in the distance. They were black with triangular dorsals.(From the extra description and communications, we determined that they were most likely Dall’s Porpoise – SM)
Loree Cameron.
UNIDENTIFIED WHALE SPECIES
May 12:
About 1.00 – 1.30 pm: My husband and I saw a whale just as it was diving on Sunday May 12th, 2015. We had just left Patos Island by sailboat heading to Blaine Washington and were only a couple of kilometres from Patos. I thought at first it was a harbour porpoise but quickly realized the distance was to great for a porpoise to look so big. I can’t identify the species of whale and can only say at first it looked like a porpoise as appeared to have a fin on it’s back. It dove and we didn’t see it again. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. It was very exciting though. We hope to report lots more sightings, with luck, in the future.Best regards,
Joanne & Uke Lorenz
Reports of Dead, Injured, Entangled or Branded Animals
CUVIER’S BEAKED WHALE
May 18: This evening I received a report of a dead "killer whale" on a beach near the village of Ahousaht, where I live, (north of Tofino, BC, on Vancouver Island). Eager to see the whale before the end of the day, I headed out on a boat and was dropped off late in the evening. To my relief, this was not a killer whale, but appears to be a 22 foot long (female?) Beaked Whale. The body is severely decomposed and is being actively fed on by numerous bald eagles. There is a large gash and prop marks running along the left dorsal side, suggesting a boat strike as cause of death, or occurring after death.
Marcie Callewaert, Ahousaht.
A second Cuvier’s Beaked Whale has washed up on Haida Gwaii – here’s a news link:
UNIDENTIFIED BALEEN WHALE
May 12: A dead whale on Dundas Island just above Prince Rupert. Laurie Bartlett (From the photo submitted, it appears to be a small Baleen Whale high on the beach. With most of it’s head missing, it has been there quite a while and is probably feeding many animals still. SM)
ENTANGLED CALIFORNIA SEA LION
May 18: The entangled California Sea Lion that had been seen off the Powell River Mill has returned. We’ve asked DFO if we can possibly help it before it becomes too distressed since it is cutting into his neck. The line, which from photos looks like packaging / box line. Please cut ALL loops in packaging, even if you think they are too large to worry about before disposing of them.
DEAD CALIFORNIA SEA LION
We received a number of calls on this Sea Lion over a number of days.
California Sea Lion washed ashore at Myrtle Rocks, just South of Powell River. We are presuming that with the Transient Bigg’s Orca in the area, it was killed and abandoned by the whales who may have been showing the young ones how to hunt. We have seen many Turkey Vultures and assume other animals are feeding on the carcass.
DEAD HARBOUR SEAL
May 16: Harbour seal, not Sea Lion floating right outside the North Westview Harbour breakwater, Powell River. We have not heard where it may have washed ashore. Once again, we have had Orca in the area and it may have died from injuries sustained in hunting exercises by them.
LINKS
A Californian man got between a mother grey whale and her baby and got a good smack for his carelessness.
People out whale watching, and a whale out people watching! 2 links:
A paddle boarder was investigated by an Orca in New Zealand and he got it on video:
A National Geographic special which shows how Orca train in special hunting methods. This is a full hour long program which the Knowledge Network has made available till early June only, so not too much time to view it:
Because everything in the ocean is related: Congratulations to Alexandra Morton and Ecojustice for their tremendous achievement in protecting our wild salmon:
On the lighter side: For those of you who like to move your mouse or cursor around, someone took a great deal of time to produce this Orca and it’s movements. Should get a smile or three:
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW! – June 21, 2015
see 2015 Summer Raffle for full details – Tickets only $5 each.
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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