Although some Orca reports have been coming in from the upper Johnstone Strait for Northern Resident Orca and a few Transient Biggs passing through and around the upper Georgia Strait, Humpback Whales seem to be the primary sightings reports. As of writing this, today’s count is up to 20 Humpbacks spread out in numbers ranging from lone whales up to six in one area. The areas range from close to Hornby Island, across the strait to Texada Island and Powell River, and up through some of the rapids in the various channels just below Chatham point. At one point the transient Biggs Orca, the T002C Family, and a couple of Humpback Whales were within extremely close proximity along the Quadra Island shoreline. These whales usually stay well away from one another.
A few of the around 200 Pacific White Sided Dolphins also got into the act by harassing a couple of Humpback Whales in Nodales Channel. Not quite sure if the third Humpback just left the area or if the Dolphins continued harassment by chasing the one on it’s own. The majority of the Dolphins were spread out from Brown’s Bay in Discovery Passage up to Kelsey Bay.
Most boaters have become a bit more aware and it’s great to see people slowing and stopping for these wonderful mammals. There’s a lot of activity out there and we are grateful to receive all your sightings reports, especially happy to hear more from some of our shore-based spotters. Keep your eyes open, and don’t forget to report.
Note – due to the high number of reports we have received in the past 6 days, we will be releasing another report shortly.
Susan Mackay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Pacific White Sided Dolpins jumping like popcorn and putting on a show at Denham Rock
Society News & Events
Real Time Monitoring Station Update: We’re LIVE!
Connect to our first installation mounted at Beach Gardens Marina click on our YouTube Channel Live Link. Please bear with us as we work on the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images. Even with the bouncy images, we still managed to have a couple of whale sightings. The hydrophone (underwater listening) installation will follow.
Thank You to all our hardworking volunteers and contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Note to Safari browser users:
Apple software upgrades may prevent images from displaying on this site. To resolve the problem, please clear your Safari browser cache: On a Mac this is in Safari preferences. On iPad and iPhones, use the Settings app, Safari, Clear History and Website Data.
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-028
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri Aug 18 2017
15:15 • est. 2 Biggs Orca heading north just passed Nootka St. about 500 metres off shore Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
13:00 • 5 Biggs Orca around Snake Island, Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. Checking out snorkellers in very shallow water.
Thu Aug 17 2017
18:00 • 4-5 Biggs Orca heading south off Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel. ▫ Second Hand
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Three Transient Bigg’s Killer Whalesheading north off of Cape Lazo
Tue, 8 Aug 2017 – 1 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Three Transient Bigg’s Killer Whalesheading north off of Cape Lazo
Tue, 8 Aug 2017 – 1 items
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 19 2017
15:03 • est. 65 NRKW Orca ◦A23s; Gs◦ heading west at Sophia Islands, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:08 • NRKW Orca spread out, heading west across the Strait from Boat Bay, Johnstone Strait.
13:36 • NRKW Orca heading west at Naka Creek, Johnstone Strait. G and A pods.
Fri Aug 18 2017
13:00 • 40-60 NRKW Orca ◦A30s◦ between Kaikash Creek and Cracroft Point, Johnstone Strait.
Thu Aug 17 2017
12:32 • NRKW Orca ◦I15s◦ abeam Baron Reef, Johnstone Strait.
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Tue Aug 15 2017
14:00 • est. 5-7 Orca moving slowly, heading west opposite Port Mellon, Thornbrough Channel, Howe Sound. Initially they were taking long dives and then came close to a log boom. At the log boom, they were close to the surface and circled around as if hunting. ▫ On Scene
Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Five to seven Killer Whales heading west opposite to Port Mellon in Thornbrough Channel
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 – 1 items
Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Five to seven Killer Whales heading west opposite to Port Mellon in Thornbrough Channel
Tue, 15 Aug 2017 – 1 items
Ann Parkinson, Vancouver, BC
Sat Aug 19 2017
17:32 • 2 Humpback Whales heading toward Plunger Passage, between Hill Island and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
16:25 • 2 Humpback Whales at Arran Rapids going into Bute Inlet.
16:20 • 1 Humpback Whales at south end of Yuculta Rapids.
16:08 • 2 Humpback Whales pectoral slapping, west side of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Multiple pectoral slaps. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales at Arran Rapids headed into Bute Inlet.
15:31 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading west off entrance of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
15:13 • 2 Humpback Whales bucking tide, between Big Bay and Sea Lion Rock, Yuculta Rapids. Very active.
15:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC
14:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading toward Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
14:53 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
14:14 • Humpback Whales breaching, Connis Point, Pryce Channel. Breaching multiple times.
12:28 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, north end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
11:44 • 4 Humpback Whales between north end of east Penn Islands and Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
10:17 • 6 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Penn Islands and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel. Three sets of two.
09:43 • 2 Humpback Whales between mid Marina Reef and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
07:47 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north travelling about 5 knots off the fishing area in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Fri Aug 18 2017
16:57 • 3 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet.
15:53 • 4-5 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Four to five Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet
Fri, 18 Aug 2017 – 6 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Four to five Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet
Fri, 18 Aug 2017 – 6 items
14:07 • 2 Humpback Whales off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
12:33 • 1 Humpback Whales north side of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Caught in prawn trap. DFO and Coast Guard know about this but whale has not since been located. They are actively looking.
BMS, Vancouver, BC
11:30 • Humpback Whales heading south near Little Bear Bay down Discovery Passage, Discovery Passage.
11:24 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, west of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
10:57 • Humpback Whales heading east by Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
Thu Aug 17 2017
16:36 • 2-3 Humpback Whales off of Whaletown, Sutil Channel.
16:33 • 2 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage aimed for Sutil Channel.
12:41 • 4 Humpback Whales south of Drew Passage, Sutil Channel. Very active.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales very active in Drew Passage
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 3 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales very active in Drew Passage
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 3 items
11:53 • 3 Humpback Whales south of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. Very curious.
11:18 • 3 Humpback Whales between Raza Island and South Rendezvous Island, Raza Passage.
11:07 • 3 Humpback Whales off of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
11:03 • 3 Humpback Whales moving towards Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.
10:26 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Bullock Bluff heading towards the Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
09:50 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Bartlett Island, Pacific Ocean.
09:18 • 4 Humpback Whales between Marina Island and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
08:17 • 4 Humpback Whales between the green can at Wilby Shoals and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Wed Aug 16 2017
18:17 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
18:15 • Humpback Whales between Subtle Islands and Hill Island, Sutil Channel. A bunch of whales.
18:14 • 2 Humpback Whales off the Comox ferry route to Little River in the middle of Georgia Strait. Very active whales.
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, north-east of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. They were fairly stationary doing continuous slapping, alternating with each other. ▫ From Ferry
Geneva Janzen, Campbell River, BC
15:51 • 2 Humpback Whales east of marker at Grant Reefs, Malaspina Strait. Reported by boater. ▫ Second Hand
15:49 • 4 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown, Sutil Channel. Very active. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown
Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 6 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Whaletown
Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 6 items
15:35 • 1 Humpback Whales off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
15:25 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, along the east side of Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
14:21 • Humpback Whales heading north off Mace Point, Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Report from BCCSN that whale is entangled with crab trap with buoy attached. It was heading towards Hernando Island. ▫ Second Hand
11:37 • Humpback Whales foraging, between the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
10:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
10:37 • 2 Humpback Whales taking short dives, off the south end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Tight to shore and lots of big flukes.
10:35 • 2 Humpback Whales approaching Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
10:21 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:56 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south from Wilby Shoals towards Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
09:52 • 2 Humpback Whales 150-m off the shore of Raza Island heading into Deer Passage. Possibly mother and calf.
09:46 • 2 Humpback Whales along the east side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
08:51 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
08:25 • 3 Humpback Whales near the light at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
07:40 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north across from Campbell River close to Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jeanne Ralston, Campbell River, BC
06:48 • 3 Humpback Whales just north of Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Fluke of a Humpback Whale passing by Campbell River
Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 1 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safari Naturalist
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Fluke of a Humpback Whale passing by Campbell River
Wed, 16 Aug 2017 – 1 items
Kaitlin Paquette, Discovery Marine Safari Naturalist
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale off of Powell River
Sat, 19 Aug 2017 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale off of Powell River
Sat, 19 Aug 2017 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Aug 19 2017
16:29 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins resting, at Bear Point, Johnstone Strait.
15:40 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading north mid channel off 45 Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:19 • PWS Dolphins milling, mid channel out from Palmer Bay, Johnstone Strait. Appeared to be headed south initially but turned around.
14:59 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins off North Bluff angling toward Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
14:07 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins playing, north of Separation Head on shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
12:48 • PWS Dolphins heading south 2 miles south of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage. South of the big group.
12:45 • PWS Dolphins heading north mid-channel at the south end of Kanish Bay. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:27 • PWS Dolphins heading north on Vancouver Island side by Kanish Bay.
10:36 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins heading south past Kanish Bay. Info from Ladyhawk. ▫ Second Hand
09:53 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins heading south off Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
Fri Aug 18 2017
13:49 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, south of Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
12:31 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading south mid channel in front of Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
11:00 • PWS Dolphins headed from Discovery Passage into Nodales Channel.
10:00 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading south from Ripple Point to Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.
09:30 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins just past Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. Reported by a fisherman. ▫ Second Hand
Thu Aug 17 2017
14:55 • PWS Dolphins at Denham Rock, Dent Rapids.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white Sided Dolphins jumping like popcorn at Denham Rock
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 7 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white Sided Dolphins jumping like popcorn at Denham Rock
Thu, 17 Aug 2017 – 7 items
11:32 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading west in front of Port Neville, Johnstone Strait.
10:30 • PWS Dolphins heading towards Davis Point to Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Aug 16 2017
16:27 • PWS Dolphins milling, west of Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
12:15 • PWS Dolphins milling, half-mile west of Cinque Islands in the middle of Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:51 • 15 PWS Dolphins off Windy Point, Johnstone Strait.
10:26 • PWS Dolphins heading south in Kanish Bay. Drafting tug with double red barge.
Sat Aug 19 2017
16:00 • 8 Dalls Porpoise playing, Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.
Wed Aug 16 2017
16:06 • 1 Other Species at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out “KC”, the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
Due to the large number of sightings, the Magazine is taking a short break and will return this coming Monday in Issue 2017-030
Magazine Submissions
the magazine accepts submissions of links to published articles and media of interest to our readers. we welcome original articles, letters, notices, photography, video and audio
SUBMIT
to the magazine
original material guidelines
notices: 100 words max.; letters & articles: 500 words max.
you or your organization must be authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content. the magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published. media submission guidelines