Transient Bigg’s and Southern Resident Orca, Humpback Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales T002C’s have been hanging around the area from somewhere down near the bottom of Texada to the bottom of Johnstone Strait. Another pod, possibly the T049A’s again, have gone into Desolation Sound. Southern Resident Orca reports are mostly from the lower Georgia Strait with a teaser of J-Pod coming closer to Comox again. Humpback Whales include ‘KC’ but there appear to be a couple of others around, but no ID’s. Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall’s Porpoise and a couple of Harbour Porpoise are around, but reports aren’t coming in as often as we’d like on them.
We’d like to thank those of you who have entered in time for our Early Bird Draw by all methods available. There’s not much time left to get in on all 7 chances to win. The Early Bird Draw will be held on June 21st. Tickets remain in the barrel for the final draw on July 26th.
Information Tables with 2015 Summer Raffle Tickets are scheduled for:
June 11: Powell River, Safeway
June 20: Sayward, Kusum Klimb Race
On Line Anytime: Use our Donate button for tickets please.
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
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW! – June 21, 2015
TRANSIENT BIGG’S ORCA
Transient Bigg’s – T002C’s
June 9, 2015
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 9:
6:30 am: Orca reported northbound at Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 9:
10:34 am: Found Orca at Howe Island heading into Nodales Channel.
11:00 am: Another group of Orca southbound past Sonora Lodge. Relayed from Benito
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching. Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
June 9:
11:28 am: South bound Orca mid channel in Calm Channel in front of Hole in the Wall.
1:05 pm: Leaving south bound Orca at North end of Lewis Channel, John is on scene.
Jerry, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 9:
11:37 am: Jerry has possibly 10 plus Killer whales in Calm Channel, and Ladyhawk sounds like she has 4 Killer whales; she is thinking they are Transient Bigg’s T002C’s.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 9:
1:29 pm Leaving the T002C’s at Hall Point heading towards Dent Rapids.
8:30 pm: Orca near Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound from a log salvage friend. Probably the ones that came down Lewis Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 9:
2:26 pm: Just about to depart these whales, they are still heading south coming up to Hope Point by Refuge Cove on West Redonda Island. Traveling at 5 knots and grouped up.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 9:
8:04 pm T011’s heading West off Sooke, BC.
Josh McInnes, Victoria
June 8:
4:40 pm: Orca are now passing Chatham Point heading west!
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 8:
10:29 am: Killer whales by New Church House northbound in Calm Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
Transient Bigg’s – T002C’s by Powell River
June 7, 2015 – 3 photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 8:
11:40 am: Orca now moving through Innes Passage, south of the Gillards, in towards Devil’s Hole. There are four animals.
4:40 pm Orca now passing Chatham point heading West.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 8:
11:59 am: Transient Bigg’s Killer whales T125’s in Puget Sound.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
June 8:
1:09 pm: Leaving Orca heading slowly north near Hall Point in Cordero Channel. Nick on location.
Jerry, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 8:
1:20 pm: The Orca confirmed as Transient Bigg’s T002Cs at Hall Point at the top of Nodales Channel.
3:20 pm: Transient Bigg’s T002Cs heading out of Nodales towards Howe Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 7:
10:30 am: Orca heading north past our place. (Albion Point just south of Powell River.) Moving very slow and sounding for long periods. Closer to Texada Island than here. Can’t tell how many.
Bill Taylor, Powell River.
June 7:
5 pm Saw some Orca on the back side of Harwood Island. Got a bit of video – see below. They were there for a couple of hours in the same spot, but they were swimming around another boat for about an hour. They didn’t move much at all. Just flipping around in the same spot on Church Reef.
Shane Gustafson, Powell River
June 7:
7:23 pm: There are a few Orca near the northwest corner of Grant’s Reef, near Powell River, at this time. They are too far to get a good count. They seem to be trending north west.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island
June 6:
3:27 pm Transient Bigg’s Orca T124C and T049C heading west off Moresby Island in Haro Strait.Also T012A and the T109’s off Meares Island, near Tofino, B.C.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
June 4:
7:55 am: Orca in front of Painters Lodge, Discovery Passage Southbound. It is a smaller pod of 4-5 whales.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 4:
9:00 am: Transient Bigg’s Orca, I think the T002C’s, at the Nyrstar dock, between Campbell River Spit and the Cruise ship dock, close to shore, slowly southbound.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
June 4:
9:25 am: Five Orca in front of the Campbell River Marina, southbound. Possibly T002C’s
10:56 am: Orca at the north end of Steep Island, heading north. Leaving the scene. Mario on scene still.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 4:
10:50 am: Orca by Steep Island, west side of Quadra island, heading north.
Lyndell, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 4:
1:52 pm: Orca at Seymour Narrows, southbound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 4:
3:10 pm: With Transient Bigg’s Orca T049A’s at Menzies Bay, just north of Campbell River, doing donuts. Garry is with them also.
3:33 pm: Both Garry and I are leaving the scene, Orca are now closer to the log sort, but still in the Menzies Bay area.
8:25 pm: Transient Bigg’s Orca T049A’s still southbound off Cape Mudge village on Quadra Island angling towards mid channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient Bigg’s – T002C’s
June 9, 2015 – 5 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
June 4:
4:53 pm: Orca are still just off the log sort in Menzies Bay. Been there most of the day!
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 4:
6:25 pm: Orca are at the Walcan building in Campbell River mid channel Discovery Passage Southbound chasing dolphins.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 3:
10:13 am: Report of Killer Whales on the Evans Bay side of Hill Island, hunting and slowly headed south along Reid Island towards Viner Point.
10:20 am: Just one lone bull. No other animals.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 3:
12:10 pm 13 or so Transient Bigg’s Orca by Porlier Pass; T125’s, T127, T137’s and T65A’s
Simon Piddock, Cowichan
June 3:
2:45 pm: 5 Orca northbound by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River.
Jim Southern, Powell River.
June 3:
3:15 pm: Four Orca heading north quite quickly off Myrtle Rocks. One large male in the group. They are about one third of the way to Texada Island.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River.
June 3:
3:09 pm: Thirteen or so Transient Bigg’s Orca by Porlier Pass, between Galiano and Valdes Islands – including T225’s, T127, T137’s and T65A’s.
Simon Piddock, Cowichan.
June 3:
4:00 pm: Orca directly off Powell River now, still northbound. Nick is with them now. They are Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
June 3:
6:00 pm: Leaving Transient Bigg’s Orca T002C’s post Harbour Seal kill, just off Sliammon. Celebration ensued during and after. T002C2 "Tumbo" still finishing off his share.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 29:
I was in Port Alberni sea trialing my boat on Friday May 29th. When I came out of the river into the bay (downtown Port Alberni) I was met by a small pod of Killer Whales, Transients (unconfirmed-SM)I would guess. It looked to be one large bull and a few cows and calves. I have never seen Killer Whales in a river estuary before! It was very choppy water with the afternoon inflow wind, so I couldn’t see any seals or sea lions being chased down, but they had to be in that shallow water for some reason!
Chris, Crabby’s Fishing Charters.
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales off Harwood Island
June 7, 2015
Shane Gustafson, Powell River
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
June 8:
3:32 pm: Southern Resident Killer whales J-pod are in Rosario Strait.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
June 7:
Southern Resident Killer whales L-pod was sighted heading south off Sooke on southern Vancouver Island, earlier today.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
June 3:
12:09 pm: Southern Resident Killer Whales J-pod was last seen headed up Georgia Strait so may show up again by Comox.
1:34 pm: Nothing so far, but going to head up the west side of Lasqueti Island.
2:16 pm: Off the bottom of Hornby Island I can hear J-pod vocalizing on the hydrophone but haven’t found them yet.
2:29 pm: SRKW’s J-pod is actually off Qualicum Beach tight to shore. Will advise direction.
Simon Piddock, Cowichan.
June 3:
1:36 pm: Southern Resident Killer Whales L-pod is on the west side of San Juan Island.
Josh McInnes, Victoria.
HUMPBACK WHALES
June 7:
10:22 pm: Just had a report of 6 Humpbacks in Baronet Passage, between West Cracroft Island and Harbledown Island, foraging.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
June 6:
7:34 am: Humpback whale northbound in front of Cape Mudge village on Quadra Island.
8:12 am: Humpback whale at Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, 100 meters offshore, northbound.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 6:
8:50 am: Report from ferry of a Humpback whale, possible "K.C." off Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island. There was one between the Cape Mudge light house and Quathiaski Cove most of the night, feeding.
Don Gibson, BC Ferries
June 6:
9:32 am: Humpback whale at April Point, Quadra Island.
11:53 am: Humpback is reported to still be off Steep Island, on the west side of Quadra.
Jordan McLean, Painter’s Lodge.
June 6:
4:30 pm: Humpback whale at Brown’s Bay, just found him, more info to come.
4:40 pm: The Humpback whale is northbound just past Brown’s Bay close to shore. I think it’s "K.C"
5:10 pm: Leaving him near shore, 1.8 nautical miles north of Brown’s Bay.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours.
June 6:
7:45 pm: Left Humpback approaching Brown’s Bay, just north of Campbell River, heading south.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 5:
7:00 am: Two Humpbacks mid strait, northbound in Discovery Passage.
7:46 am: Only one Humpback seen now, a quarter mile off the 50thparallel marker, northbound.
9:00 am: Second Humpback whale is in about the same area but farther out in Discovery Passage.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 5:
9:15 am: One Humpback whale found closer to the Quadra Island shoreline, by the Walcan building, northbound.
9:39 am: The other Humpback reported is in front of Argonaut wharf in Campbell River. pointed north.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 5:
10:36 am: Leaving Humpback whale in front of the Walcan building near Campbell River, no direction, moving slowly near the Quadra Island side.
Jerry, Eagle Eye Adventures
June 5:
11:22 am: Humpback whale at Brown’s Bay, Vancouver Island, heading north with the tide.
Jordan McLean, Painter’s Lodge.
June 5:
1:00 pm: A friend has informed me that there is a Humpback whale by Chatham Point, where Discovery Passage merges into Johnstone Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
June 4:
11:37 am: Humpback whale at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures.
June 4:
3:20 pm: Report from Chatham Light keeper of a Humpback whale, doing donuts.
4:20 pm: With The Humpback off Chatham lighthouse. It is "K.C."
4:40 pm: Leaving "K.C" just below Chatham point, slowly meandering south.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
Transient Bigg’s – T002C2 by Powell River
Showing the severe deformity from scoliosis
yet still managing to breach!
June 7, 2015 – 3 photos
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
June 4:
12:40 pm: 57 Pacific White Sided Dolphins at Knox Bay, doing circles.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching.
June 4:
2:00 pm: 50-60 Pacific White Sided Dolphins southbound towards Discovery Passage, also about ten minutes ago a Humpback whale was doing donuts in the same area.
Chatham Point Light Keeper,relayed by Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
June 4:
4:40 pm: Couple or three Harbour Porpoise by Greensea Bay, on Sonora Island.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
DALL’S PORPOISE
June 3:
4:25 pm: 8 Dall’s Porpoise in Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
LINKS
The Canadian Navy Halts live fire exercises to all Killer Whales to pass:
A strange find in "Whale Valley", Egypt.
A rare Cape Verdes Humpback became entangled in fishing gear and died in the Highands of Scotland
2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get your tickets in time for our EARLY BIRD DRAW! – June 21, 2015
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
For our DONATE page click here
