Breaching Humpbacks!
Cover Image:
Humpback Whale in front of Powell River
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Breaching Humpback whales can be seen from a fair distance away; with use of binoculars, one may see whales as far as 6-8 km away. One may notice a big splash in the ocean indicating Humpbacks are breaching. Of course, seeing them breach closer up is awesome and fascinating. One can never really know where they will leave the surface of the water to breach so its best to keep your distance (at least 100-m) from where the whales were last seen before they dove. A Humpback may breach multiple times, but a whale can eventually become tired as each breach requires a lot of energy. Keep your eyes open for whales when you are near the sea and let us know if you see any whales, especially if they are breaching!
The Federal Government (DFO) statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
Upcoming events:
Our annual Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, is now rescheduled for April 2022. We are confident that by then we will be able to hold a successful event.
Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated. We thank you greatly for your support!
Instagram and Twitter: Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins
For Research:
For research access to 26,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
WOWs Website:
Work has been slowly prgressing to provide better links and information on our programs. It is taking a bit longer than anticipated to upload the fully redesigned website and ensure all internal links will work correctly. With all that we have going on throughout the Summer months, we anticipate that it will be uploaded in October. Please bear with us.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live Web Camera YouTube Channel streams from Powell River 24/7 with views towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing some of the whales.
Thank You to our 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? We will not be accepting applications until October when we will have current availabilities posted.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are being revamped in conjunction with our web sites.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2021-019
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Sun Aug 08 2021
07:55 • 3 Biggs Orca heading west off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Hans Lammers, Blind Channel Resort
11:30 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north-west in Welcome Passage.
15:57 • Biggs Orca ◦T034s,T037s◦ heading north-west from Nelson Island towards Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Simon Piddock, Ocean EcoVentures Parksville
18:46 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Mon Aug 09 2021
11:41 • Biggs Orca heading south, north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
12:57 • 7 Biggs Orca spread out, heading south near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:19 • Biggs Orca heading south-east, mid channel almost at the ferry line to Comox, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:03 • Biggs Orca ◦T034s,T037s◦ heading south-east mid-strait just south of the ferry line to Comox. Mid strait, just below the ferry line.
Simon Piddock, Ocean EcoVentures Parksville
Thu Aug 12 2021
09:32 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:23 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south off Middle Point, Discovery Passage.
11:41 • 5 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north just north of Middle Point.
12:25 • Biggs Orca heading north in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. All small fins.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:43 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north past Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
14:23 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south heading back into Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Esther Hollink, Brown’s Bay Resort
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Discovery Passage
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Brown’s Bay Resort
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Discovery Passage
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 – 1 items
Brown’s Bay Resort
15:13 • Biggs Orca milling, in Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Lorill Vining, Campbell River Whale Watching
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Aug 08 2021
08:41 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
08:41 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:00 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, heading south at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Feeding in the tide.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
09:57 • 3 Humpback Whales near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. One whale to the west of the Island and two very close to the Island.
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Coulter Bay and Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
10:03 • 2 Humpback Whales off Hernando Island south of Baker Passage.
11:09 • Humpback Whales heading south at Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
11:14 • Humpback Whales off Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:30 • Humpback Whales off Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:03 • 2 Humpback Whales between Quadra Island cell tower and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
14:08 • 3 Humpback Whales near Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:45 • 3 Humpback Whales playing, north of Cortes Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:02 • 2 Humpback Whales between Marina Island shack and Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Stan Novotny, Stan Novotny Productions
15:29 • 2 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:44 • Humpback Whales off Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
15:47 • 2 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:53 • Humpback Whales breaching, between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
16:15 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
16:18 • 4 Humpback Whales at Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Stan Novotny, Stan Novotny Productions
16:28 • 2 Humpback Whales off Read Island, Sutil Channel.
16:28 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south around Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
17:48 • 3 Humpback Whales spread out, between Powell River Viewpoint and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
18:33 • Humpback Whales heading east from Harwood Island towards Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Mon Aug 09 2021
11:54 • Humpback Whales breaching, off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
11:57 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Lorax◦ between Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:35 • Humpback Whales in Baker Passage.
14:14 • 5 Humpback Whales near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:20 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ heading north off Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale in front of Powell River
Mon, 9 Aug 2021 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale in front of Powell River
Mon, 9 Aug 2021 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:23 • 4 Humpback Whales near Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:46 • 2 Humpback Whales to the west of Center Islet, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:18 • 3 Humpback Whales near Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
15:46 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north between Quadra Island Scallop Farm and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:48 • 3 Humpback Whales near Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait.
16:57 • 1 Humpback Whales near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue Aug 10 2021
08:40 • est. 1 Humpback Whales travelling, heading east, SW of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ From Ferry
VI
09:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, between the Powell River Ferry Terminal and the ferry terminal at Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. ▫ From Ferry
Julia Murphy, Richmond, BC
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales mid channel between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. At 9:45am, they were heading towards Dogfish Bay (south tip of Quadra Island).
09:28 • Humpback Whales above Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:50 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south 1 NM off Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:55 • Humpback Whales near the middle of Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
09:55 • 1 Humpback Whales at the top of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
09:58 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, NW of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:10 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, between Bullock Bluff and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:23 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south close to the shoreline on the west side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:40 • 1 Humpback Whales off the south end of Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:12 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
12:50 • 1 Humpback Whales angling toward Baker Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:04 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south half way between the Powell River Viewpoint and the Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:13 • Humpback Whales off the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:24 • 1 Humpback Whales off the south-west side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:25 • 1 Humpback Whales between Bullock Bluff and Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:40 • 3 Humpback Whales at the mouth of Von Donop Inlet.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:56 • Humpback Whales breaching, off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
13:59 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Calypso,BCX Glacier◦ between Penn Islands and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel. With calf.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:22 • 2 Humpback Whales off north-west side of Hill Island at the mouth of Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
20:25 • est. 5 Humpback Whales spread out, between Harwood Island and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Aug 11 2021
06:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west at Forward Bay, West Cracroft Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
09:18 • Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
09:23 • Humpback Whales at Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
10:08 • 2 Humpback Whales out a couple miles from Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:10 • 3 Humpback Whales west of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:00 • Humpback Whales breaching, by Hill Island and Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:42 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north close to Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
11:45 • 1 Humpback Whales quarter way from Powell River to Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Not doing much of anything. Just the off blow.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north mid-way between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Moved slowly from mid-channel to close to shore. Then travelled north towards Myrtle Rocks. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
12:53 • 1 Humpback Whales half mile off Coulter Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
13:34 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just outside of Quartz Bay, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:52 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ just off Wilby Shoals towards Marina Island, Georgia Strait.
14:32 • 2 Humpback Whales east side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
14:32 • 2 Humpback Whales west side of Hill Island.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:35 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
17:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south mid-channel between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. The animal moved very slowly south, then turned and travelled north. It was in the same area for about 3 hours. Last seen moving north. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
Thu Aug 12 2021
08:37 • Humpback Whales toward Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Blows seen from the Wilby Shoals area.
Radio, overheard or call out
08:57 • 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north, south of Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Six to eight minute dives.
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:07 • 5 Humpback Whales right out in front of Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
Devin Fraser, Sonora Resort
09:45 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ between Read Island and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:09 • 1 Humpback Whales off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, heading for Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales on the southeast side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
14:35 • 2 Humpback Whales near the west side of Hill Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:50 • 2 Humpback Whales near Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:53 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north half way between the Powell River Viewpoint and the Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait. They were southbound for awhile.
19:33 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching; pectoral slaps, heading south, south of Grilse Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Texada Island
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Texada Island
Thu, 12 Aug 2021 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
23:00 • Humpback Whales across from Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. I was hearing whales outside of my house, loud whacks on the water surface and huge blows. Sounded quite close to shore.
Don H., Powell River, BC
Fri Aug 13 2021
08:56 • 1 Humpback Whales close to shore by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
08:56 • 2 Humpback Whales by Cape Mudge Fishing Hump off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
09:28 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at April Point, Discovery Passage.
10:03 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south mid channel between Marina Reef and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:42 • 4 Humpback Whales between Browns Bay and Nodales Channel, Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
10:54 • Humpback Whales by Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Greensea Bay on the west side of Sonora Island, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
11:14 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading south along the shore of Read Island at Twin Bay, Sutil Channel.
11:23 • 2 Humpback Whales at Lake Bay, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:26 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Middle Point, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:24 • 3 Humpback Whales off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
12:24 • 1 Humpback Whales off Shark Spit, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:14 • 2 Humpback Whales by Twin Bay, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:17 • est. 5+ Humpback Whales just out from Quadra from Francisco Point to Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:45 • 2 Humpback Whales bubble netting, along Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
Sun, 8 Aug 2021 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales
Sun, 8 Aug 2021 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Aug 09 2021
13:50 • PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 12 2021
13:00 • PWS Dolphins playing, off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
15:15 • est. 75 PWS Dolphins heading east off Davis Point, Nodales Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
DALLS PORPOISE
Sun Aug 08 2021
14:10 • 6 Dalls Porpoise in Vancouver Bay, Arran Rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Aug 13 2021
13:52 • Dalls Porpoise in Nodales Channel. Various small groups.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:25 • Dalls Porpoise at the top of Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Aug 09 2021
13:56 • 2 Harbour Porpoise just south of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
SPECIES UNSURE
Fri Aug 13 2021
11:03 • Species Unsure by Mink Island, Desolation Sound.
Radio, overheard or call out
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 25,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings. Please use the the funnel in our Map for access to our huge range of filters. Those wishing Research information in a spreadsheet format, please Click Here
*Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
- All species including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
- Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
- Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
- Witness a close-up Orca encounter video in Port Alberni harbour
- Follow the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
- Track "KC", the ever popular Humpback's movements
- Locate any of 12,000+ named locations on the BC and WA State coast
- Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
To access 25,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a research spreadsheet, please Click Here.