Humpback Whales Still Making a Splash in BC Waters
Humpback Whales are the main focus for this week’s Sightings Update. A number of them appear to be staying in our coastal waters, at least a bit longer than usual. There are a few, presumably Transient Bigg’s Orca, but listed under the Unidentified Killer Whale section since we have no confirmed identifications. Otherwise, Southern Resident Orca are back down in the Puget Sound area, as are a few of the Bigg’s, and no word on the Northern Resident Orca. Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Porpoise have also been spotted in various locations.
Together with the DFO, we are seeking more information on a report of a whale that may have made it all the way up the Fraser River and into Harrison Lake. If anyone has any further details, information or photos please contact us immediately.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Society News:
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Our 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. Please feel free to add comments about what you see, we love to hear, as do other subscribers.
SIGHTINGS MAP 2015-040
For our DONATE page click here
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776
Southern Resident Orca Missed photos from previous Issue
Roger McDonnell, Stubbs Island Whale Watching
Southern Resident Orca Missed photos from previous Issue
Roger McDonnell, Stubbs Island Whale Watching
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Wed Nov 04 2015
16:15 • 3 Orca heading North in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. There was one large dorsal (male) and two females close beside a tug and tow. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River
Fri Oct 30 2015
14:27 • 2 Orca heading West off Duncan Island across from Port Hardy in Goletas Channel. One male Orca in the the group as one big fin was sighted.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching
HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu Nov 05 2015
14:13 • 2 Humpback Whale heading North towards Harwood Island from the West side of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River
10:43 • 2-4 Humpback Whale between the NW tip of Texada Island and Harwood Island, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Wed Nov 04 2015
14:30 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South slowly on the West side of Texada Island near Crescent Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Humpback Whales
Wed Nov 04 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Humpback Whales
Wed Nov 04 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Tue Nov 03 2015
15:49 • 3-4 Humpback Whale more huge blows towards Denman Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Humpback Whales
Tue Nov 03 2015 – 7 Images / Media Files
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Humpback Whales
Tue Nov 03 2015 – 7 Images / Media Files
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
15:48 • 2 Humpback Whale still back and forth between Harwood Island and the tip of Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ On Scene
13:38 • 2 Humpback Whale breaching, on West side of Rebecca Rock in front of Powell River, Georgia Strait. There’s another blow farther down the Texada Isl. shoreline as well. ▫ On Scene
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
12:00 • 2-3 Humpback Whale off the Texada Quarry on the West side close to Crescent Bay, Georgia Strait. From friend having a lunch break on shore. ▫ Second Hand
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Mon Nov 02 2015
09:18 • 2-3 Humpback Whale off Coho Point at the NW tip of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Sat Oct 31 2015
16:06 • 1 Humpback Whale just out from Davis Bay, Sechelt, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Elizabeth Nemeth, Sechelt
Fri Oct 30 2015
16:40 • 1 Humpback Whale heading South in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River
15:30 • 2 Humpback Whale heading South-East between Harwood Island and the Mainland in Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Joanne Kirk-Southworth , Powell River
Humpback Whales
Fri Oct 30 2015 – 3 Images / Media Files
Joanne Kirk-Southworth , Powell River
Humpback Whales
Fri Oct 30 2015 – 3 Images / Media Files
Joanne Kirk-Southworth , Powell River
13:05 • 1 Humpback Whale at mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:42 • 2 Humpback Whale heading South between Savary Island and Dinner Rock in Georgia Strait. One Humpback was observed to have some white coloration on its fluke.
Jenna Adamack, Lund
07:33 • 3 Humpback Whale near Egmont Community on Sechelt Peninsula in Sechelt Inlet. ?BCY0291, KC plus two others? Since October 17, these Humpback Whales have been spotted in the area several times over the past two weeks.
Charlie Syburg, Sechelt
Thu Oct 29 2015
19:48 • 2 Humpback Whale in Jervis Inlet. ?BCY0291, KC? The last few days we have had the two Humpbacks here. Last week there was another group of 4. I have taken some videos. One of the two Humpbacks is good enough for ID I think. They came very close to shore right below our deck. I notice one has a v cut in its fin. Seems distinctive. Exciting. From clip submitted ID is of ‘KC’ or Kelp Creature born 2002 – SM. ▫ Observed from Shore
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet
Humpback Whales
Thu Oct 29 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet
Humpback Whales
Thu Oct 29 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet
15:17 • 2 Humpback Whale North of Sechelt Peninsula. The Humpbacks are quite active, especially at night. They are breaching and making lots of noise. ▫ Observed from Shore
Beverly Saunders, Jervis Inlet
Wed Oct 28 2015
13:16 • Humpback Whale between Powell River and Rebecca Rock in Malaspina Strait. The Humpback Whale was making long dives.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Tue Oct 27 2015
??:?? • 2 Humpback Whale off Hummingbird Cove in Jervis Inlet. ?BCY0291, KC? Here are some still captures of the whale we saw on Oct 27th at Hummingbird Cove while we were in our dinghy, these should be good for ID! We identified one as ‘KC’ – SM.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Powell River
Humpback Whales
Tue Oct 27 2015 – 2 Images / Media Files
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Powell River
Humpback Whales
Tue Oct 27 2015 – 2 Images / Media Files
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Powell River
Fri Oct 23 2015
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whale milling, heading West off Captain Island. ▫ From Ferry
Kerry and Becky Williams-Freeman, Powell River
OTHER WHALES
Sun Nov 01 2015
11:30 • 1 Other Whales in between Harrison West and Echo Island in Harrison Lake. First thing noticed was a couple of big blows. This animal was approx. 20-30 feet long, with a lighter coloured belly and darker grey on top. It rolled and slapped a very large flipper against the water. The flipper was light underneath and darker on top. The tail looked large also. ▫ Observed from Shore
Dennis Lacey, .
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Oct 28 2015
17:27 • 6 PWS Dolphins heading North off Separation Head on Quadra Island in Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
DALL’S PORPOISE
Thu Nov 05 2015
13:15 • 3 Dall`s Porpoise foraging, at Purcell Point, Bute Inlet.
12:45 • 3 Dall`s Porpoise between Southgate River and Ward Point, Bute Inlet.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Fri Oct 30 2015
14:30 • 1 Dall`s Porpoise off Alpha Bluff in Bute Inlet.
13:30 • 2 Dall`s Porpoise off Purcell Point.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Wed Oct 28 2015
16:29 • 3 Dall`s Porpoise between Ward Point and Purcell Point deep inside Bute Inlet.
16:29 • 1 Dall`s Porpoise off Fawn Bluff in Bute Inlet.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
OTHER PORPOISE
Tue Nov 03 2015
08:04 • 3-4 Other Porpoise breaching, heading North-East about 80 yards straight off White Rock Pier, Semiahmoo Bay, Strait of Georgia. What caught my attention as I was taking photos of a Heron feeding on minnows right at the bottom of the pier was hearing a big (huge) splash and thought to myself hoooly!! So I start looking over in the distance and that’s when I saw the first pair of fins (not sure what breed… dark gray). All seemed like triangular shaped fins to me. I assume there were 4, I saw 2 at the time coming out with about 1-2 seconds in between and that repeated itself probably every 2-3 minutes. Maybe the same group of 4 coming out every 2-3 minutes? They breached 3-4 times and were diving around crab cages (bouys). I would say I saw them 4-5 times over the next 10minutes… then gone. Gorgeous morning!. ▫ Observed from Shore
Guy Mercier Surrey
Other Porpoise
Tue Nov 03 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Guy Mercier Surrey
Other Porpoise
Tue Nov 03 2015 – 1 Images / Media Files
Guy Mercier Surrey
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2015-040
For our DONATE page click here
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776
