Whales All Over Sightings Maps and Photos

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Whales All Over Sightings Maps and Photos

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Southern Resident Killer Whales are staying in the Southern parts of Georgia Strait while the Transient Bigg’s are tucking in and out of various inlets and channels throughout all of the inside waters. No word on the Northern Resident pods. Humpback Whales are staying around and another Grey Whale might be also. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are back in one of their favourite areas, Nodales Channel, and both Dall’s and Harbour Porpoise are around, but aren’t being reported as often.
The countdown to our 2016 Summer Raffle draw is on. Only a few days left to get your chance at winning! See below for details.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


HB off Viner Point


Society News & Events
Summer 2016 Raffle: This year our draw will be on Canada Day, July 1st. Great prizes include Pacific Coastal Flight, Eagle Eye Adventure Tour, Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour, BC Ferries Pass, Campbell River Whale Watching Tour, I’Hos Cultural Tour, Discovery Marine Safaris Tour, and Beyond the Road Desolation Sound Cruise. All prizes are for two people. Tickets are $5. each and can be ordered through our Add To Cart button or at our information tables listed below. There are fewer tickets equating to better chances of winning. Do YOU have your tickets yet the clock is ticking?
Our 2016 Raffle Tickets are also available at our information tables at:
June 23: 10:30 – 4pm at the Town Centre Mall, Powell River.
Vancouver Island and other Locations are being worked on locally by our volunteers.
July 1st: Canada Day Celebrations have been moved to Willingdon Beach, Powell River and we will be drawing the raffle winners at closing.
Full Raffle Details available Here

Are you the type of volunteer interested in Cetacea and mapping, who would be willing to spend some time with our growing Society network?

Review our current Volunteer Job Postings

DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society

Sightings Update


SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-018

SIGHTINGS LOCATIONS MAP

TRANSIENT BIGG’S KILLER WHALES


Mon Jun 20 2016

18:39 • Bigg`s Orca heading North off Point Atkinson, Georgia Strait. ?T123s? There were 2 other unidentified Orca in the group.

18:38 • Bigg`s Orca heading South from Cape Roger Curtis towards Sand Heads Light, Georgia Strait. ?T86As? They have been on this track since 4pm.

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC


Sun Jun 19 2016

13:43 • Bigg`s Orca heading West off Point Cowan on the South-East end of Bowen Island, Georgia Strait. ?T101s? These Orca swept through English Bay around 11am today.

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC


Sat Jun 18 2016

20:09 • 2-4 Bigg`s Orca first seen at Myrtle Rocks then off Fleury Road, Malaspina Strait. It seems that another two smaller ones were there as well, quite a distance from the original two. One of the big ones had quite a large dorsal fin, looks like it had a bit of a wave in it.

SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 – 4 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC







SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 – 4 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


17:18 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading South in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

11:44 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading South-West 2 miles South of Trial Islands near Victoria, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ Second Hand

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC

–:– • Bigg`s Orca, Okeover Inlet. The Orca spent the whole day there. ▫ Second Hand


Fri Jun 17 2016

13:56 • Bigg`s Orca about 2 miles West of the North Arm of the Fraser River, Georgia Strait. ?T100s?

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC


Thu Jun 16 2016

20:12 • 3 Bigg`s Orca playing, South of Myrtle Rocks over on Texada Island side of Malaspina Strait. Splashing around.

Jim Southern, Powell River, BC

19:38 • Bigg`s Orca back and forth, off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ?T002Cs? They either turned or are on a kill. They were very active and were spy-hopping.

SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

T002Cs by Powel River

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 – 3 items

Michelle Pennel, Powel River






SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

T002Cs by Powel River

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 – 3 items

Michelle Pennel, Powel River


19:05 • Bigg`s Orca heading North by Grief Point.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

18:07 • 4-5 Bigg`s Orca heading North by Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.

Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Wed Jun 15 2016

15:20 • Bigg`s Orca moving slowly, heading South between Hill Island and Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ?T002Cs? ▫ Leaving the Scene

SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

A wonderful afternoon with the T002C Orcas in Sutil Channel

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 – 10 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours













SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales

A wonderful afternoon with the T002C Orcas in Sutil Channel

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 – 10 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

11:48 • Bigg`s Orca at Marina Island heading toward Shark Spit, Sutil Channel.

11:43 • 3 Bigg`s Orca West side of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES


Sat Jun 18 2016

16:31 • 25 SRKW Orca heading South at Limekiln Lighthouse on the West side of San Juan Island WA, Haro Strait. ?L pod? Most of L pod in the group.

11:44 • SRKW Orca heading East almost reaching North Race Rock, Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES


Sun Jun 19 2016

14:09 • Orca near Lund, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand


Fri Jun 17 2016

06:30 • Orca heading North, Okisollo Channel. ▫ Second Hand

HUMPBACK WHALES


Tue Jun 21 2016

16:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South in Big Bay, Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.

Kaitlin Ross, Sonora Resort

14:25 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South at Denham Islet, Dent Rapids. ?BCY0291 KC, BCY0767 Arial?

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

13:58 • 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, pointing towards Frederick Arm in Cordero Channel. ?BCY0291 KC, BCY0767 Arial? Dives were 25 minutes long.

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 – 4 items







SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Tue, 21 Jun 2016 – 4 items


12:38 • 1 Humpback Whales in area of Vancouver Bay, Arran Rapids. ?BCX1258 Crescent?

12:04 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South across from Cordero Lodge North of East Thurlow Island, Cordero Channel.

11:30 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, off Denham Islet, Dent Rapids. Report from a sailor. ▫ Second Hand


Mon Jun 20 2016

18:39 • 1 Humpback Whales between Sand Heads Light and Point Grey, Georgia Strait. Small Humpback being erratic and uncooperative all day.

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC

16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, in front of Richie Brothers on Stuart Island, Arran Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene

15:06 • 1 Humpback Whales between Jimmy Judd Island and Asman Point, Dent Rapids. ?BCX1258 Crescent?

13:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North approaching Tugboat Passage, Dent Rapids. ?BCX1258 Crescent?

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours








SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

12:10 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, Gillard Islands, Dent Island, Dent Rapids. ?BCX1258 Crescent?

11:51 • 1 Humpback Whales heading West Gillard Islands, Yuculta Rapids. ?BCX1258 Crescent?


Sun Jun 19 2016

13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales near Dinner Rock, Malaspina Strait. Report came in during early afternoon. ▫ Second Hand

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive


Sat Jun 18 2016

18:26 • 1 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, 1/2 mile South-West of the North arm Pier end of the Fraser River just South of Point Grey, Georgia Strait.

Aaron Nagler, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC

15:47 • 1 Humpback Whales South of Whiskey Point near Cape Mudge Village, Discovery Passage.

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

13:19 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading North at the North end of Cape Mudge Village 400-500 meters from the shore of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. No tail action. Taking a breath every 2 minutes. ▫ Leaving the Scene

13:03 • 1 Humpback Whales Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage. Hanging in the flood back eddy.

12:54 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading North off Whiskey Point.

09:41 • 1 Humpback Whales off Willow Point, Georgia Strait. Near the boat launch. ▫ Radio Report

Radio, overheard or call out


Fri Jun 17 2016

18:01 • 2 Humpback Whales 500m off Viner Point, Sutil Channel. ?BCY— Chinook, Dalmatian? ▫ Leaving the Scene

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

HBs Chinook and Dalmatian off Viner Pt.

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 – 6 items









SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

HBs Chinook and Dalmatian off Viner Pt.

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 – 6 items


17:02 • 2 Humpback Whales half way along Quadra Island shore between Rebecca Spit and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

16:01 • 2 Humpback Whales heading North between Marina Island and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

HBs Chinook and Dalmatian in Sutil Channel

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 – 7 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours










SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

HBs Chinook and Dalmatian in Sutil Channel

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 – 7 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


15:25 • 2 Humpback Whales 2 miles North-West of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. no direction yet.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

13:37 • 3 Humpback Whales in Blackney Passage, Blackfish Sound.


Thu Jun 16 2016

16:30 • Humpback Whales by No Name Creek, Discovery Passage. Saw blows.

15:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North approaching Dent Rapids.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

13:41 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading North South of Sonora Lodge on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids.

13:40 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, South of Sonora Lodge on Sonora Island.


Wed Jun 15 2016

08:18 • 1 Humpback Whales off Cracroft Point, West Cracroft Island, Blackfish Sound. Large Humpback whale.


Tue Jun 14 2016

10:45 • 2 Humpback Whales off Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait. ?BCY0291 KC, BCY0767 Arial? Had heard there were three Humpbacks, but only found these two. ▫ Observed from Shore

SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

2 HBs BCY0291 KC and BCY0767 Arial off Kelsey Bay on June 14th.

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Angie and Paul Hibbert, Sayward








SIGHTING MEDIA

Humpback Whales

2 HBs BCY0291 KC and BCY0767 Arial off Kelsey Bay on June 14th.

Tue, 14 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Angie and Paul Hibbert, Sayward


Angie and Paul Hibbert, Sayward

GREY WHALES


Sat Jun 18 2016

16:09 • 1 Grey Whales heading South almost at No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS


Mon Jun 20 2016

16:39 • PWS Dolphins heading North at mouth of Okisollo Channel.

15:30 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading North between Deepwater Bay and Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

13:39 • PWS Dolphins heading South Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.

11:50 • 60 PWS Dolphins heading West at the Western end of Nodales Channel.

10:04 • PWS Dolphins Davis Point, Nodales Channel.

Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

10:03 • PWS Dolphins Davis Point. numbers and heading unknown.


Sun Jun 19 2016

17:15 • 40 PWS Dolphins in Chonat Bay, Okisollo Channel.

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Dolphins off Horn Point

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 – 2 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours






SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Dolphins off Horn Point

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 – 2 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


15:50 • 30 PWS Dolphins by Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

12:55 • PWS Dolphins off Hall Point, Nodales Channel.

09:53 • PWS Dolphins off Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand

–:– • 50 PWS Dolphins at Pulton Bay, Okisollo Channel. This is another group of PWS Dolphins.

Gordon Prezioso, Eagle Eye Adventures


Sat Jun 18 2016

10:16 • 30+ PWS Dolphins milling, heading South-East at Horn Point, Dent Rapids. Very spread out and heading towards Little Dent Island.

09:36 • PWS Dolphins Hall Point, Nodales Channel.


Fri Jun 17 2016

15:57 • 150 PWS Dolphins milling, now at Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.

12:51 • PWS Dolphins heading West off Tyee Point at the South-West end of West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.

10:46 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading West off Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.

10:33 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading East by Ripple Point heading towards Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.


Thu Jun 16 2016

14:50 • 60 PWS Dolphins milling, off Horn Point, Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Beautiful Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours








SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Beautiful Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 – 5 items

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

12:34 • PWS Dolphins off Horn Point.

Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:01 • PWS Dolphins half-way up Frederick Arm.

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

08:33 • 40-50 PWS Dolphins at the head of Frederick Arm.

Radio, overheard or call out

DALL’S PORPOISE


Fri Jun 17 2016

11:00 • 4 Dall`s Porpoise off Granite Point off the North-West tip of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

HARBOUR PORPOISE


Fri Jun 17 2016

13:30 • 2 Harbour Porpoise, Bute Inlet.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Thu Jun 16 2016

14:05 • 2 Harbour Porpoise off Davis Point, Nodales Channel.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

SPECIES UNSURE


Sun Jun 19 2016

16:29 • Species Unsure Cape Mudge Fishing Hump off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Unconfirmed whale spouts reported. ▫ Second Hand

Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures


SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-018

SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP


SUBMIT sightings
or call 1-877-323-9776 or eMail
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our media submission guidelines

The Magazine

REGIONAL & WEST COAST

Q13 Fox News


The first Short-beaked dolphins to visit the Salish Sea in recent memory have made their way along Juan de Fuca and paid a visit to the Victoria area….

Photo by Erin Gless, Island Adventures Whale Watching and Port Angeles Whale.

CTV News, Vancouver Island
Video Report


A change both remarkable and concerning is taking place in the waters off the province’s coast – in an area some are calling "tropical B.C."
A group of scientists and divers are sharing incredible footage and photos that show warm-water sharks, sunfish and dolphins roaming the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
"[We’re] diving and exploring and documenting the changing ocean that we’re experiencing," said Ian McAllister, a conservation photographer with Pacific Wild, a non-profit

For more details:
Pacific Wild

Castanet, Kelowna

Although ship traffic poses many potential threats to marine life, it’s actually one of the ways of transporting commercial goods with the lowest carbon footprint … reducing ship traffic speed in sensitive areas can significantly reduce the risk of lethal collisions between vessels and whales, protecting both marine life and their habitats."…

Care2


NOAA has announced it plans to take action to reduce the noise in entire marine ecosystems.

NOAA’s Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap, which the agency has been working on for six years, is intended to be a more progressive plan for dealing with underwater noise pollution. Its four "overarching" goals are centered on science, management, the development of assessment and other decision-making tools, and public outreach.

The goals are expected to be met within the next 10 years.

As one of the first steps in putting the roadmap into action, NOAA has …

CANADA

Hakai Magazine


All of the sperm whales in the world descended from just one female who lived tens of thousands of years ago. That surprising result comes from an examination of the mitochondrial DNA of more than 1,600 sperm whales from all over the world. Fittingly, researchers have named her Eve.

INTERNATIONAL

Earthtouch News


Enjoy wonderful photographs of a breaching Minke Whale as well as an archive video of Minke Whales breaching off the coast of Portugal.

Michael Deal, Blog

There are eleven populations of humpbacks around the world, each covering their own ocean-sized territory. These populations each boast not only their own dialect of song, but also their own anthem of sorts?-?each whale singing the same sequence of the same sounds. But week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year this song evolves, as the whales collectively create new phrases and patterns, totally in sync…


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