Lots of Orca Activity – SRKWs and Bigg’s in Numbers plus Grey Whales, Dolphins and Porpoise
Many Transient Bigg’s Orca have been popping up. The Southern Resident Orca from K-pod and L-pod are making one of their few yearly visits to the top of Georgia Strait. Humpbacks and Grey Whales are still foraging back and forth. Dolphins and Porpoise seem to be spread out in different locations. With fewer boaters out there, we are noticing a drop in the number of sightings coming in. Just a reminder to everyone that we do monitor and publish our reports all year long, and that many of the sightings come from people on shore…Keep them coming! Every single report is valuable.
We even have a NEW Sightings Report Form that you can submit your sightings through.
Society News:
There is a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes.
Our NEW Sightings Report Form is both mobile and internet friendly with drop down options to make it easier for you to report while giving us important information.
Our NEW Email link has been moved to the side bar and below the report. You may notice that it is now going to our sightings@wildoceanwhale.org address.
In addition we have one more NEW feature!
Our NEW Sightings Heat Map which shows the ‘hot spots’ of whale activity. The redder the colour, the more activity we have in the report. Both of our published maps relate specifically to the current Sightings Update indicated by the Issue Number. This one is 2015-038.
On October 22, Susan MacKay will be giving a public multi-media presentation in Powell River hosted by the Malaspina Naturalists Club. Location: United Church hall, corner of Duncan and Michigan. Time: 7 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
SIGHTINGS MAP 2015-038
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES
Sat Oct 17 2015
16:14 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South slowly between Seymour Narrows and Race Point, Discovery Passage. This would be the group that had split off from the others. ▫ On Scene
16:13 • 10-12 Bigg`s Orca heading West continued towards Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. Left them about ten minutes ago.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:30 • 6-7 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Separation Head, Discovery Passage.
Coast Wild Fishing Charters
14:58 • 12 Bigg`s Orca doing circles, between Howe Island and Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:47 • 11-12 Bigg`s Orca heading North by Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:50 • 4 Bigg`s Orca by Bodega Point, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:03 • 4-9 Bigg`s Orca heading South
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:14 • 20 Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading North from Browns Bay. They encountered some Pacific White Sided Dolphins and there was quite a pursuit!!. ▫ Second Hand
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
11:40 • Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading North in front of Browns Bay above Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. They’re beating up on some pacific White Sided Dolphins. ▫ On Scene
Captain, Coast Wild Fishing Charter
Tue Oct 13 2015
16:53 • 4 Bigg`s Orca turned, heading North 2 nautical miles off Oyster Bay heading towards Marina Reef, Georgia Strait. ?T002Cs? ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:53 • 4 Bigg`s Orca turned, heading North ?T002Cs? ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:45 • 4 Bigg`s Orca between Oyster Bay and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ?T002Cs? There’s a BC Ferry Quadra Queen II also on scene with them. ▫ On Scene
16:45 • 4 Bigg`s Orca ?T002Cs? There’s a BC Ferry Quadra Queen II also on scene with them. ▫ On Scene
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:11 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South right in line with Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait. ?T002Cs? ▫ On Scene
16:11 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South ?T002Cs? ▫ On Scene
15:46 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Shelter Point. ?T002Cs? ▫ On Scene
15:46 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South ?T002Cs? ▫ On Scene
Jos Krijnen, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:20 • Bigg`s Orca breaching, at Saltery Bay, Jervis Inlet. They were putting on a good show. ▫ Second Hand
11:20 • Bigg`s Orca breaching, They were putting on a good show. ▫ Second Hand
Michael Stewart, Powell River
Sun Oct 11 2015
16:30 • 4 Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading South right at the head of Frederick Arm. ?T002Cs? The Orca were hunting but looking like they were heading out of the inlet.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg’ s Killer Whales
Sun Oct 11 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg’ s Killer Whales
Sun Oct 11 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:30 • 4 Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading South ?T002Cs? The Orca were hunting but looking like they were heading out of the inlet.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:30 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading North heading into Frederick Arm. ?T002Cs? ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:30 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading North ?T002Cs? ▫ Leaving the Scene
Ed Sharkey, Painter’s Lodge
15:22 • 4 Bigg`s Orca by Gomer Island, Frederick Arm. ?T002Cs?
15:22 • 4 Bigg`s Orca ?T002Cs?
Radio, overheard or call out
10:01 • 9 Bigg`s Orca heading South spread out between Cape Mudge lighthouse and Vancouver Island shore Discovery Passage. There are 3 males, 1 sprouter, (a male growing into his fin – SM), 4 females and a calf. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Bigg’ s Killer Whales
Sun Oct 11 2015 – 4 Images / Media Files
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Bigg’ s Killer Whales
Sun Oct 11 2015 – 4 Images / Media Files
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:01 • 9 Bigg`s Orca heading South There are 3 males, 1 sprouter, (a male growing into his fin – SM), 4 females and a calf. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:41 • 9 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Cape Mudge, Discovery Passage. There’s at least 3 big males. ▫ On Scene
09:41 • 9 Bigg`s Orca heading South There’s at least 3 big males. ▫ On Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sat Oct 10 2015
16:30 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading West between Clipper Point and Alpha Bluff in Bute Inlet.
16:30 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading West
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
16:05 • 2 Bigg`s Orca by Clipper Point in Bute Inlet.
16:05 • 2 Bigg`s Orca
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
08:57 • 5-6 Bigg`s Orca heading North now passing Separation Head, Discovery Passage.
08:57 • 5-6 Bigg`s Orca heading North
08:38 • Bigg`s Orca heading North in Seymour Narrows.
08:38 • Bigg`s Orca heading North
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Oct 17 2015
15:23 • SRKW Orca heading North between Cape Lazo and Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. There are dozens of them spread out across the strait.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
Fri Oct 16 2015
12:19 • 39 SRKW Orca heading North off Bowen Island headed for Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ?K-pod, and 20 from L-pod?
Simon Piddock, Cowichan
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sat Oct 17 2015
14:53 • 4-5 Orca heading North 1 nautical mile West of Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. They’re moving pretty quickly. Don’t have exact numbers or IDs, sorry diving. (Although we assume that these are some of the Southern Resident Orca, without IDs, we cannot confirm – SM).
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
Whales: Humpbacks, Sea Lions and Orca passing through Jervis Inlet, Saltery Bay on Sept. 27th 2015 Super moon Eclipse or Blood Moon
John Craven, Powell River, BC
Whales: Humpbacks, Sea Lions and Orca passing through Jervis Inlet, Saltery Bay on Sept. 27th 2015 Super moon Eclipse or Blood Moon
John Craven, Powell River, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat Oct 17 2015
14:33 • 1 Humpback Whale heading North between Harwood Island and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. At 14:15 it was approx halfway between us, on the mainland, and the Mystery Reef buoy. ▫ Observed from Shore
Rosella Bradly, Lund, BC
11:50 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West between Vivian Island and Harwood Island, Georgia Strait.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
11:12 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Thu Oct 15 2015
17:48 • 3-4 Humpback Whale just North of the confluence of Sechelt Inlet, Agamemnon Channel and Jervis Inlet. This appears to be a new group of Humpbacks.
Beverly Saunders, Sechelt
15:30 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North out from Garden Bay, Pender Harbour, Georgia Strait. Not sure what they are, (we identified them as Humpbacks from the photo submitted – SM) truly amazing, huge tails, tiny fins, caught us totally by surprise while we were out for a sightseeing tour. We missed the tail shots as we were totally in awe and none of us could grab our phones in time for photos. We just came out of Garden Bay north of Pender Harbour and were meandering south towards the Sechelt area when right in front (south) and to the west of us these magnificent creatures appeared! Huge tail fins which we only saw a couple times and then they were gone for a few minutes. Being landlubbers from the Fraser Valley we were somewhat intimidated and our hearts were racing but we realized we were witnessing something truly amazing. As we grappled for our cameras we scanned the water and then slightly to the north if us we saw/heard them again. They were heading north past the entrance to the garden bay area, not going very fast, just bobbing about enjoying the beautiful fall day. Very close to the shoreline when we first saw them, there were people on shore with a dog that probably saw them as well. Truly magnificent creatures, an experience that we will cherish forever! We were awed by their presence and amazed at their size, graceful movements and all around awesomeness!.
Carla Devison, Fraser Valley
Humpback Whales
Thu Oct 15 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Carla Devison, Fraser Valley
Humpback Whales
Thu Oct 15 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Carla Devison, Fraser Valley
Wed Oct 14 2015
15:06 • 2 Humpback Whale between South Rendezvous Island and Lewis Channel, Calm Channel.
15:06 • 2 Humpback Whale
Radio, overheard or call out
07:30 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South 22kms South of Powell River approx. 200-300 yards off shore in about 50 feet of water in Frolander Bay, Malaspina Point. This large Humpback whale had a caravan of Sea lions with it.…cruising slowly towards the south…Unfortunately no pic’s but observed large fluke and tremendous blowhole activity. ▫ Observed from Shore
Wayne Harbo, Powell River
Tue Oct 13 2015
20:00 • 2 Humpback Whale resting, by Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. It was such a still evening and I could hear the huge blows almost echo off Texada. It was magical. ▫ Observed from Shore
20:00 • 2 Humpback Whale resting, It was such a still evening and I could hear the huge blows almost echo off Texada. It was magical. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River
16:25 • 2 Humpback Whale resting, in front of Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
16:25 • 2 Humpback Whale resting, ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
14:04 • 3 Humpback Whale just North of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
14:04 • 3 Humpback Whale
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:21 • 2 Humpback Whale in front of the Viewpoint in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
12:21 • 2 Humpback Whale
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
12:19 • 2-3 Humpback Whale off Mullen Point in Lang Bay, Malaspina Strait.
12:19 • 2-3 Humpback Whale
Michael Stewart, Powell River
10:11 • 2 Humpback Whale just off the Green Can Buoy by Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
10:11 • 2 Humpback Whale
Radio, overheard or call out
09:20 • 3 Humpback Whale off Hardy Island, Malaspina Strait.
09:20 • 3 Humpback Whale
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
07:33 • 2 Humpback Whale off the Spirit Square in Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They’re so close to the ferry dock, they could have been rubbing the pilings. ▫ Observed from Shore
07:33 • 2 Humpback Whale They’re so close to the ferry dock, they could have been rubbing the pilings. ▫ Observed from Shore
Caroline Stoddart, Powell River, BC
Mon Oct 12 2015
12:33 • 2 Humpback Whale in Jervis Inlet. We have had two humpbacks by our place in Jervis Inlet this week.
12:33 • 2 Humpback Whale We have had two humpbacks by our place in Jervis Inlet this week.
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet
Sat Oct 10 2015
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North slowly along the West coast of Quadra Island seen from Discovery Pier Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North ▫ Observed from Shore
Scott Meixner, Campbell River
15:36 • 1-2 Humpback Whale just off Rebecca Rock, Powell River in Georgia Strait.
15:36 • 1-2 Humpback Whale
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
11:20 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West between Rebecca Rocks and Blubber Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ From Ferry
11:20 • 1 Humpback Whale heading West ▫ From Ferry
Joe Kinrade, .
Tue Oct 06 2015
17:30 • 4 Humpback Whale foraging, West of Hotham Sound, Jervis Inlet. ▫ From Ferry
17:30 • 4 Humpback Whale foraging, ▫ From Ferry
Bob Johnson, .
Mon Oct 05 2015
15:45 • 3 Humpback Whale heading West at the entrance to Pender Harbour, Malaspina Strait. Observed from a distance.
15:45 • 3 Humpback Whale heading West Observed from a distance.
13:30 • 1 Humpback Whale foraging, heading West off Stillwater Bluffs.
13:30 • 1 Humpback Whale foraging, heading West
Bob Johnson, .
Sat Oct 03 2015
13:45 • 1-2 Humpback Whale heading towards Finlayson Arm, Mill Bay, Saanich Inlet. There were 5 huge breaths as we watched. ▫ Observed from Shore
13:45 • 1-2 Humpback Whale There were 5 huge breaths as we watched. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heather, Saanich
GREY WHALES
Wed Oct 14 2015
07:00 • 1 Grey Whale by the Roberts Creek Pier Sechelt Peninsula, Georgia Strait. Beautiful Sunrise with Mr. Grey.
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC
Mon Oct 12 2015
08:51 • 1 Grey Whale close to shore between Roberts Creek and Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. We have seen the Grey Whale everyday the last 4 days ( not including today yet).He was so close to the pier in Roberts Creek that my son and I were sprayed in the face!. ▫ Observed from Shore
08:51 • 1 Grey Whale We have seen the Grey Whale everyday the last 4 days ( not including today yet).He was so close to the pier in Roberts Creek that my son and I were sprayed in the face!. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brandi Mladenich, Sechelt
Sun Oct 11 2015
17:20 • 1 Grey Whale near the shore across from Trail Bay, Sechelt.
17:20 • 1 Grey Whale
Vicki Kerschbaumer, Sechelt
Sat Oct 10 2015
15:00 • 2 Grey Whale from West Roberts Creek area to Wilson Creek, Georgia Strait. The water was quite choppy but you could see them blowing as they passed by. ▫ Observed from Shore
15:00 • 2 Grey Whale The water was quite choppy but you could see them blowing as they passed by. ▫ Observed from Shore
Georgena Good, Sechelt, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Oct 17 2015
15:40 • 4 PWS Dolphins playing, just out in front of Davis Bay, Sechelt, Georgia Strait. There were at least 4 of them leaping and playing. ▫ Observed from Shore
Elizabeth Nemeth, Sechelt
15:16 • 20-30 PWS Dolphins by Sonora Point in Nodales Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:14 • PWS Dolphins being hunted, heading North from Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. The Dolphins encountered some Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and there was quite a pursuit!!. ▫ Second Hand
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
11:40 • PWS Dolphins being hunted, heading North in front of Browns Bay above Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Some Transient Bigg’s are beating them up. ▫ On Scene
Captain, Coast Wild Fishing Charter
Mon Oct 12 2015
15:03 • PWS Dolphins, Sechelt. 50′ off shore saw many dark fins popping up out of the water and bodies swimming about, but could not clearly identify the species. (We believe that these were Dolphins based on the description – SM).
15:03 • PWS Dolphins 50′ off shore saw many dark fins popping up out of the water and bodies swimming about, but could not clearly identify the species. (We believe that these were Dolphins based on the description – SM).
Donna Burgess, Sechelt
12:25 • 3 PWS Dolphins heading North at Whiskey Point in Saanich Inlet.
12:25 • 3 PWS Dolphins heading North
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
DALL’S PORPOISE
Sun Oct 11 2015
12:41 • 10 Dall`s Porpoise by Vancouver Bay by Arran Rapids at the entrance to Bute Inlet.
12:41 • 10 Dall`s Porpoise
Jillian, Sonora Lodge
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Thu Oct 15 2015
10:09 • 1 Other Species by Beazley Passage in Surge Narrows. A Sea Otter! Pretty cool to see one. ▫ On Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2015-038
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
or Call 1-877-323-9776
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
