An exciting part of whale watching is seeing the tails (called flukes) of whales coming out of the water as the animals dive. Some whales like to perform tail slaps, that is an animal will raise its tail out of the water and hit the water repeatedly with their tail creating a loud sound. It is thought that tail slapping could be a form of communication and it could be a form of play. Among the species of Cetaceans here in B.C., Humpback whales and Orca can be seen performing tail slaps occasionally.
There have been sightings of Transient Orca in Howe Sound, around Powell River, and in various inland waterways. Some Orca were reported further north along Johnstone Strait and remains unidentified, but possibly could be the Northern Resident Orca. A couple of Orca were also spotted close to shore in Victoria. Pacific White Sided Dolphins have been observed in small pods and in large pods, some numbering in the hundreds. Dall’s porpoises have appeared in many areas and some make a regular appearance in Toba Inlet. Dall’s porpoises have also been spotted in Georgia Strait off of Point Grey in Vancouver. Rounding our report are a few sightings of Humpback whales and Harbour porpoises.
WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2019-003
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri Jan 11 2019
10:00 • est. 5-7 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading west beyond the hulks at Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Wyatt, Powell River
Fri Jan 18 2019
15:00 • Biggs Orca by Church House, Calm Channel.
15:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Sun Jan 20 2019
13:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T086As◦ heading towards Hole in the Wall from Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
23:00 • est. 3 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south-east between Lund and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brian Voth, Lund, BC
Mon Jan 21 2019
10:34 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca heading south mid-channel by Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC
11:00 • est. 6-7 Biggs Orca heading south off Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC
11:43 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south past Raven Bay across from Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
13:43 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south off Stillwater, Malaspina Strait.
Chuck Gray, Powell River, BC
13:54 • Biggs Orca in Hoskyn Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
15:40 • 3 Biggs Orca
travelling, heading north, south of Porteau Cove, Howe Sound.
Looked like one adult and two young ones. ▫ Observed from Shore
Don Saugstad, Squamish, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s heading north past Porteau Cove
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 – 1 items
Don Saugstad, Squamish, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s heading north past Porteau Cove
Mon, 21 Jan 2019 – 1 items
Don Saugstad, Squamish, BC
Wed Jan 23 2019
13:05 • est. 8 Biggs Orca
travelling, heading north off Mission Point, Georgia Strait.
First observed off White Islets, appeared to be hunting and slowly moving towards the Islets. They came through on the inside of the Islets, traveling past Mission Point and Davis Bay before heading further up the Coast. Can confirm 8 in the pod but may have been more. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s heading north off of Mission Point
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 – 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Bigg’s heading north off of Mission Point
Wed, 23 Jan 2019 – 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
14:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002C2 Tumbo,T002Cs◦ heading north at Greensea Bay from Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Tumbo trailing behind at the Cinque Islands.
Tue Jan 29 2019
13:33 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north at Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait.
14:27 • est. 6 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north by Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
17:16 • Biggs Orca by Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Disappeared in the fog.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Wed Jan 23 2019
17:00 • est. 2 SRKW Orca heading south-east at Holland Point in Victoria, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Both Orca came very close to shore, in shallow water. Less than 25 feet from observer. ▫ Observed from Shore
PW, Victoria, BC
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Thu Jan 17 2019
15:06 • est. 6-8 Orca by Bulkely Island aiming towards D’Arcy Point, Wellbore Channel.
Sat Jan 19 2019
13:49 • Orca off the Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Jan 25 2019
10:10 • est. 5 Orca
foraging, on Powell River side of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Jan 26 2019
10:15 • est. 6-8 Orca heading east out of Robson Bight, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu Jan 17 2019
–:– • Humpback Whales out by Atrevida Reef north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Observed before noon along with some sealions. As seen on facebook. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:08 • 3 Humpback Whales aiming into Johnstone Straight from Gunner Point, Sunderland Channel.
Mon Jan 21 2019
09:05 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north by Grassy Creek, Loughborough Inlet.
Thu Jan 24 2019
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales off Egg Island, Queen Charlotte Sound.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Jan 11 2019
10:30 • est. 200-300 PWS Dolphins
moving quickly, heading south-west, Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Wyatt, Powell River
Wed Jan 16 2019
09:37 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading south between Bullock Bluff and the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
15:35 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins
travelling, heading north midway between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Eric Kennedy, Powell River, BC
Sat Jan 19 2019
09:10 • PWS Dolphins heading south over by Blubber Bay and Grilse Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Jan 22 2019
10:15 • PWS Dolphins by Lily Islet, Havannah Channel.
Small Group.
Fri Jan 25 2019
14:46 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins at Henrietta Point, Stuart Island, Bute Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Mon Jan 28 2019
10:54 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins in Calm Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
DALLS PORPOISE
Wed Jan 16 2019
14:51 • est. 30 Dalls Porpoise spread out in Toba Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Fri Jan 18 2019
14:00 • 6 Dalls Porpoise halfway up Frederick Arm.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Sat Jan 19 2019
13:20 • 5 Dalls Porpoise heading north at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Sun Jan 20 2019
11:20 • 10 Dalls Porpoise across from Windy Point by Stimpson Reef, Johnstone Strait.
12:20 • est. 30 Dalls Porpoise in Toba Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Dalls Porpoise
Dalls Porpoise in Toba Inlet
Sun, 20 Jan 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Dalls Porpoise
Dalls Porpoise in Toba Inlet
Sun, 20 Jan 2019 – 1 items
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Wed Jan 23 2019
08:05 • 10 Dalls Porpoise just west of Knox Bay, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
14:37 • est. 30+ Dalls Porpoise in Toba Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Fri Jan 25 2019
14:35 • Dalls Porpoise heading north at Fawn Bluff, Bute Inlet.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River, BC
Sun Jan 27 2019
14:45 • est. 8 Dalls Porpoise
foraging, heading east 2 miles off Point Grey, Georgia Strait.
Swimming in a large circle. Started off moving slowly and after about 10 minutes started picking up speed and rooster tailing. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Sean Antrim, Vancouver, BC
Dalls Porpoise
Dalls Porpoise heading east off of Point Grey
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 – 5 items
Sean Antrim, Vancouver, BC
Dalls Porpoise
Dalls Porpoise heading east off of Point Grey
Sun, 27 Jan 2019 – 5 items
Sean Antrim, Vancouver, BC
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Sat Jan 19 2019
15:35 • est. 15 Harbour Porpoise south of Whirlpool Rapids, Wellbore Channel.
Sun Jan 27 2019
12:45 • 10 Harbour Porpoise
milling, in Bessborough Bay, Wellbore Channel.
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