Cetacean Sightings and Map Update 2015-035
Humpback Whales have certainly been of note over the past few months. The Northern Resident Killer Whales have spent a bit less time than usual, but more than last year. Our "Resident" Transient Bigg’s Orca, the pod known as the T02C’s, have been spending most of their time in the upper Georgia Strait, while others have been quite transient. Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been spotted in larger numbers then seem to vanish, perhaps due to the Transient Bigg’s who do hunt them. Dall’s Porpoise are being reported in medium to small groups more spread out again while the occasional report of Harbour Porpoise makes our records.
As a side note: Responding to emails has been a bit slower than we like, but please rest assured that every sightings report is appreciated and valued immensely.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
REPORT LOCATIONS MAP – 2015-035
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report.
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
Sun Sep 20 2015
13:00 • Bigg`s Orca heading South along Read Island shoreline towards Dunsterville Islet out of Hoskyn Channel. ?T002Cs?
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:53 • Bigg`s Orca off Whiterock Passage by Surge Narrows. ▫ On Scene
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:52 • 4 Bigg`s Orca by Whiterock Passage top of Hoskyn Channel. ?T02Cs? ▫ On Scene
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Sep 19 2015
12:20 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading North near Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. One bigger than the other – mother and young one?.
Ann Thorpe, Powell River
12:01 • Bigg`s Orca off Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Algerine Passage. one big fin.
Colin Giffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Fri Sep 18 2015
18:14 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading North between Race Point and Maud Island, Discovery Passage.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
16:35 • Bigg`s Orca heading North at April Point heading towards Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
Rhys, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:30 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading North by April Point, Discovery Passage.
10:48 • Bigg`s Orca in front of Dolphins Resort. We had no luck finding them. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Sep 17 2015
17:25 • 10 Bigg`s Orca heading North at the Tyee Spit and Grouse Island, Discovery Passage. ?T049s, plus?
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
16:06 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading North 300 meters off Hidden Harbour, Discovery Passage. relayed from Elvis.
Lyndell Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:00 • Bigg`s Orca heading North at Cape Mudge.
11:40 • 3 Bigg`s Orca by Cracroft Point, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 16 2015
12:58 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading South at Brew Bay, Malaspina Strait.
12:38 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading South at Myrtle Point. They are flying!!. ▫ On Scene
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:36 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Myrtle Rocks. ▫ Observed from Shore
Nick Gregory, Powell River
11:56 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading South on North side of Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Looks like the same group as yesterday by Plunger Pass. ▫ On Scene
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:50 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading South off the Viewpoint, Powell River.
Judy Brant, Powell River
11:08 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Westview towards Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River
10:29 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South just passing Harwood Island towards the mill Powell River, Malaspina Strait. 1 really big one!!. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heather Armstrong, Powell River
Tue Sep 15 2015
16:58 • Bigg`s Orca heading South off Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Nick Gregory, Powell River
14:00 • 5 Bigg`s Orca heading South in front of the Viewpoint, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
13:57 • Bigg`s Orca off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. We could see it / them from the restaurant. ▫ Observed from Shore
Midge Dalsin, Powell River
13:05 • 6 Bigg`s Orca heading South spread out between Powell River and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. one big dorsal.
Rick Steen, Powell River Fishing Guide
12:15 • Bigg`s Orca 1 mile South of Marina Reef, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:30 • Bigg`s Orca heading South off Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Rhys, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:48 • Bigg`s Orca off Stubbs Island with a second group closer to Donegal Head, Blackfish Sound. ?T59s, T46C2, T49Bs? ▫ Radio Report
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
09:29 • 5 Bigg`s Orca aproaching Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:18 • 4 Bigg`s Orca by Coulter Island heading for Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
09:10 • Bigg`s Orca at Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Sep 20 2015
11:30 • 1 Humpback Whale between Kanish Bay and McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:12 • 1 Humpback Whale heading North at Browns Bay of Discovery Passage.
Ed Sharkey, Painter’s Lodge
Sat Sep 19 2015
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whale by Okisollo Channel towards Chatham Point mid-strait Discovery Passage.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
09:51 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North East side of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Spotted through scope. Pretty sure they are hb, can’t see any dorsals. Water is rough but blows are very visible. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River
09:10 • 1 Humpback Whale heading North in front of Discovery Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Sep 18 2015
15:41 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West by Palmer Bay, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
14:20 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West just past Turn Island.
Jake, Chatham Point Lightkeeper
12:58 • 2 Humpback Whale off Camp Point.
Colin Giffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
10:48 • 1 Humpback Whale heading North by Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Sep 17 2015
17:31 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South by Tsakwaluten, Cape Mudge Village, Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
16:53 • 2 Humpback Whale heading West off Cinque islands towards Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. ?Chinook, Silts? It was interesting watching a tug with a big tow stop to whale watch for a bit.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Humpback Whales
Thu Sep 17 2015 – 4 photos
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
16:01 • 2 Humpback Whale breaching,, Okisollo Channel. They breached between 15 to 20 times in a row!!. ▫ On Scene
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:38 • 2 Humpback Whale heading South off Browns Bay heading towards Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
14:25 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North just above Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. from boat ‘Utopia’. ▫ Radio Report
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
13:22 • 1 Humpback Whale at Greensea Bay.
13:22 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South at the mouth of Okisollo Channel towards Granite Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:12 • 2 Humpback Whale heading West at Race Point, Seymour Narrows.
Jordan McLean, Painter’s Lodge
12:06 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North by Painter’s Lodge, Discovery Passage.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:15 • 1 Humpback Whale turned, heading South by Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
11:11 • 1 Humpback Whale at Bjerre Rock, Okisollo Channel.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:53 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West towards Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
09:42 • 1 Humpback Whale around Octopus Islands, Okisollo Channel.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:30 • 1 Humpback Whale by Octopus Islands on the Quadra Island side of Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 16 2015
17:42 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North off Atrevida Reef towards Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Kim Lisberg, Powell River
10:47 • 1 Humpback Whale breaching, pointed at Raza Island, Deer Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:44 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North across from Myrtle Rocks by the quarry on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River
09:33 • 1 Humpback Whale heading North heading towards North Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:20 • 1 Humpback Whale between Penn Islands and South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Sep 15 2015
16:15 • 2 Humpback Whale heading West off the North side of Harwood Island, Shearwater Passage.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
14:22 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North by Willingdon Beach towards the hulks breakwater at the mill Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Spotted two – white flukes – humpbacks? – they were headed north. I saw them come up 2x in 4 minutes – about 300 metres away? as they headed toward the hulks. According to the folks I met there, they said there were 4 in fact – two further out. ▫ Observed from Shore
Dan Tatham, Powell River
13:34 • 3 Humpback Whale heading North in front of Willingdon Beach, Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Leigha Stewart, Powell River
13:18 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North off Viewpoint towards the mill Powell River.
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River
13:07 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North off Westview Harbour heading towards the mill Powell River.
Rick Steen, Powell River Fishing Guide
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South just South of Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Shari Green, .
12:20 • 1 Humpback Whale heading East at in 30 feet of water between Red Can buoy and shoreline Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Jordan McLean, Painter’s Lodge
12:15 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North by Beach Gardens, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Joe VanEss, Powell River
11:49 • 2 Humpback Whale doing circles, between Myrtle Rocks and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ?Chinook, Silts? IDs confirmed by Susan MacKay from submitted photos.
Bob Brooks, Powell River
Humpback Whales
Tue Sep 15 2015 – 2 photos
Bob Brooks, Powell River
11:40 • 2 Humpback Whale foraging, heading North past Myrtle Rocks, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. The two humpbacks we saw earlier are now heading back north past Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. Still feeding, we think. ▫ Observed from Shore
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whale foraging, off Myrtle Rocks.
Holly Roy, Powell River
Mon Sep 14 2015
12:00 • Humpback Whale in Blackfish Sound. This report is soley for the purpose of adding the photos from the 14th. during a number of hours in Blackfish Sound with many Humpbacks lunge feeding and transitting the sound.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Humpback Whales
Mon Sep 14 2015 – 8 photos
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sun Sep 20 2015
10:14 • 12 PWS Dolphins foraging, at Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Sep 19 2015
17:28 • 7 PWS Dolphins doing circles, between Kanish Bay and Deepwater Bay mid-strait Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:20 • 10 PWS Dolphins resting, by Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Sep 18 2015
16:30 • PWS Dolphins by Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:12 • 15 PWS Dolphins milling, by Horn Point, Cordero Channel.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
13:11 • 12 PWS Dolphins off Camp Point, Johnstone Strait. with the Humpback Whales.
Colin Giffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Thu Sep 17 2015
16:52 • 75 PWS Dolphins heading South by Point 45, Discovery Passage.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:59 • 20 PWS Dolphins off Bodega Point.
Rhys, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:06 • PWS Dolphins heading West past Knox Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:48 • 200 PWS Dolphins spread out from Chatham Point to Ripple Point and possibly beyond in Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:25 • 25 PWS Dolphins in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:12 • 20 PWS Dolphins heading West at Race Point, Seymour Narrows.
Jordan McLean, Painter’s Lodge
11:40 • 250 PWS Dolphins by Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:07 • PWS Dolphins off Point 45, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:40 • 15 PWS Dolphins at Sheer Point, Hoskyn Channel.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:30 • 200 PWS Dolphins at McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Wed Sep 16 2015
17:29 • PWS Dolphins moving now into Duncan Bay. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:26 • PWS Dolphins foraging, still at Race Point.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:33 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading North at Race Point.
Ed Sharkey, Painter’s Lodge
12:09 • 75 PWS Dolphins foraging, at the mouth of Sunderland Channel, Johnstone Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Mon Sep 14 2015
11:00 • 2 PWS Dolphins in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet. They were right close to the float plane dock. ▫ Observed from Shore
Gabe and Sherril Torok, Sechelt
DALL’S PORPOISE
Sun Sep 20 2015
09:53 • Dall`s Porpoise off Whiterock Passage by Surge Narrows. ▫ On Scene
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Sep 19 2015
09:10 • 10 Dall`s Porpoise by Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Sep 17 2015
14:20 • 3 Dall`s Porpoise in Horn Bay, Cordero Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Sat Sep 19 2015
11:09 • 2 Harbour Porpoise foraging, in Gowland Harbour, Discovery Passage.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776or Emailyour report.
