Grey Whale Surprise!
July 2, 2022
— issue No. 2022-014
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On June 25, a Grey whale was seen in Shute Passage near Sidney; the whale was foraging and taking long dives. On the same day, another two Grey whales appeared near the south end of Quadra Island in Georgia Strait. The Grey whale population along the West Coast of North America is a healthy population of over 20000 individuals and most of them are off of Alaska during the summer months. However, a few Grey whales do remain around BC waters and inland waterways, as evidenced by these sightings from June 25.
Our report this week includes sightings of Transient Orca, and one pod of Transients was seen hunting porpoises. There were many sightings of Humpback whales, with a few mother-calf pairs reported. Many Humpbacks were breaching; one whale was seen breaching over and over again (approximately 25 times). Various pod sizes of Pacific White-Sided dolphins were reported, some as small as 10 individuals and some large with up to 100 individuals. Of note is one sea otter observed near Mitlenatch Island.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay at least 400 m away from all killer whales in southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet, including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is in effect year-round until May 31, 2023. If killer whales approach any vessel, boaters should place their engine in neutral and wait for the animals to pass.”
For all other areas of B.C. outside of the area indicated above, a minimum distance of 200-m must be maintained when viewing Orca. When viewing other species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, a minimum distance of 100-m must be kept.
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Society News & Events
Events Scheduled:
Saturday, July 16, 2022 10 am – 4 pm at Lynn Valley Park, North Vancouver, BC. Lynn Valley Days. Visit our booth.
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For Research:
For research access to 30,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please
Click Here. to fill in your request.
WOWs Website:
We are pleased to announce that our revamped website is up and running.
Take a look and let us know what you think.
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? Updates on current availabilities and revised links will be posted here in the new year.
Review our previous
Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are slowly being revamped and not yet on our web sites.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2022-014
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Jun 20 2022
11:15 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:20 • Biggs Orca at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
12:00 • Biggs Orca
hunting, Arran Rapids.
They were chasing porpoise.
15:25 • Biggs Orca off Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
16:15 • Biggs Orca heading north, April Point, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Jun 23 2022
08:00 • Biggs Orca off Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
11:20 • Biggs Orca near Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:55 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north off Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait.
Damien Dawson, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:57 • Biggs Orca near Powell Islets. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Thu, 23 Jun 2022 – 7 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Thu, 23 Jun 2022 – 7 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:10 • 6 Biggs Orca between Savary Island and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:20 • Biggs Orca heading south, Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Jun 24 2022
09:15 • Biggs Orca, Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:18 • Biggs Orca off Sutil Point, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
10:00 • Biggs Orca heading west north side of Twin Islands, Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:26 • Biggs Orca heading north off Savary Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ off Second Point on Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Finishing off a meal.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦
moving slowly, heading south approaching Dinner Rock, Malaspina Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south at Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait.
Damien Dawson, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Jun 25 2022
18:50 • est. 5 Biggs Orca heading north off Bowser, Georgia Strait.
A pod was seen from shore and a baby was noted in the group. ▫ Observed from Shore
Katya, Maurice, & Sebastian Cline, Bowser, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Bowswer, BC
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 1 items
Katya, Maurice & Sebastian Cline
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Bowswer, BC
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 1 items
Katya, Maurice & Sebastian Cline
Sun Jun 26 2022
–:– • 31 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T034s,T037,T037Bs,T049As,T100s,T101s,T137s◦ Parksville Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:15 • est. 3 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south-east in front of the restaurant in Qualicum Beach, Georgia Strait.
Looked like mom with babys. ▫ Observed from Shore
Colin Watt, Qualicum Beach, BC
Mon Jun 27 2022
16:46 • Biggs Orca ◦T086As◦ heading south-west passing Cortes Bay, Cortes Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
17:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T086As◦, Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
20:30 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T086As◦ off Merry Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Jun 20 2022
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales west side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Mom and calf.
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
These are two other whales.
12:35 • 2 Humpback Whales
breaching west side of Okisollo Channel.
15:25 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
16:30 • 2 Humpback Whales at Race Point, Discovery Passage.
16:50 • 2 Humpback Whales in Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Jun 21 2022
09:30 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
11:00 • Humpback Whales, Frederick Arm.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Jun 22 2022
09:52 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north-west, south of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:18 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south-west coming out of Frederick Arm.
12:37 • 1 Humpback Whales off Gomer Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:50 • Humpback Whales
taking long dives, heading south at Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
10 minute dives, up for 2 or 3 breaths and down.
14:45 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale
Wed, 22 Jun 2022 – 9 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale
Wed, 22 Jun 2022 – 9 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Jun 23 2022
09:10 • Humpback Whales beween Jimmy Judd Island and Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
09:10 • 2 Humpback Whales Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:40 • 2 Humpback Whales
milling, off Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Damien Dawson, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:10 • Humpback Whales at the entrance to Frederick Arm.
10:30 • Humpback Whales heading north just outside of Teakerne Arm, Teakerne Arm.
11:40 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:14 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north-west, south of Raza Island, Raza Passage.
Damien Dawson, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:52 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south between Powell River and Grilse Point, Malaspina Strait.
13:07 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Powell River and Grilse Point.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:28 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south-east off Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales, Lewis Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Jun 24 2022
09:15 • 3 Humpback Whales, Baker Passage.
09:15 • Humpback Whales by Teakerne Arm, Teakerne Arm.
09:20 • 2 Humpback Whales just out from Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
10:45 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales off Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:14 • 2 Humpback Whales at the entrance to Baker Passage.
11:14 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south between Mitlenatch Island amd Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
14:06 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦T002Cs◦ northeast of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Pectoral slapping.
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:19 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, southeast of Mitlenatch Island heading for Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south, north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
20:00 • Humpback Whales in Deep Bay, Baynes Sound.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Jun 25 2022
–:– • est. 2+ Humpback Whales one mile out from PB Cardinal Buoy off Cape Lazo toward the north tip of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Graham Evans, Stowaway Adventures
08:54 • 2 Humpback Whales west of the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales
taking long dives, heading south-east off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Phi◦ heading north, Discovery Passage.
With another younger one.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
10:16 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north, east of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:05 • 2 Humpback Whales
milling, between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Mom and calf.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, south of Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:10 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:16 • 2 Humpback Whales off Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:48 • 1 Humpback Whales west of Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
14:07 • 1 Humpback Whales just east of Helmcken Island, Johnstone Strait.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:10 • 1 Humpback Whales
moving slowly, heading south, west of Manson Passage, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and the north end of Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
20:30 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Spotlight◦ off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Mom and calf with prop marks on left side.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, Spotlight, near Mitlenatch Island
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 5 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, Spotlight, near Mitlenatch Island
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 5 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Sun Jun 26 2022
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales at the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
09:10 • 2 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:15 • 3 Humpback Whales around Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:50 • 2 Humpback Whales, Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:38 • 3 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Stan Novotny, Stan Novotny Productions
12:40 • 3 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:03 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:06 • 3 Humpback Whales between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
4-5 boats on scene. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Stan Novotny, Stan Novotny Productions
14:15 • Humpback Whales
breaching, Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
14:15 • 4 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
14:40 • Humpback Whales
breaching, just out from the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Had been rolling around and slapping pectoral flipper.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Jun 27 2022
09:29 • 2 Humpback Whales
milling, 1-NM west of Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
09:48 • 1 Humpback Whales
doing circles, northwest of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Small whale and taking 3.5 minute dives,.
Stuart Clark, Stan Novotny Productions
10:03 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Seymour Narrows mid Discovery Passage.
Taking many short dives. The whale came back into the Seymour Narrows heading southward. Leaving the scene at 10:14am.
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:17 • 2 Humpback Whales just north of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Very active.
Stuart Clark, Stan Novotny Productions
12:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Breton Islands and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Possible mother-calf pair.
Kassandra Radis, Quadra Island Kayaks
12:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east along the north side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
12:38 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦ off the reef at Mitlenatch Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:50 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦
moving slowly and resting, south of Mitlenatch Island.
Moving SE slowly. Leaving the scene at 14:17.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:32 • Humpback Whales
breaching, off Breton Islands, Sutil Channel.
Ella Roberts, Quadra Island Kayaks
15:13 • Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Hourglass◦
taking long dives, south-east of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Swimming in big circles. Leaving the scene at 15:54.
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:15 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ heading east about half-mile off of Read Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:22 • 2 Humpback Whales
breaching, close to Rebecca Spit, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
15:22 • 2 Humpback Whales near Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Mother-calf pair.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:23 • 1 Humpback Whales off Read Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:10 • Humpback Whales
breaching, off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:34 • Humpback Whales
breaching, off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Good show – the whale breached 25 times.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
GREY WHALES
Sat Jun 25 2022
09:39 • 2 Grey Whales north of Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Murray, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:00 • 1 Grey Whales
foraging, heading south-west off Brackman Island near Sidney, Shute Passage.
Seemed to be feeding. Mostly coming up every 5-10 minutes, sometimes down longer. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
LJ, Sidney, BC
Grey Whales
Grey Whale near Sidney, BC
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 1 items
LJ, Sidney, BC
Grey Whales
Grey Whale near Sidney, BC
Sat, 25 Jun 2022 – 1 items
LJ, Sidney, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Jun 20 2022
16:15 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Jun 21 2022
11:00 • PWS Dolphins
foraging, spread out Rock Bay to Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.
large group.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Jun 22 2022
–:– • PWS Dolphins, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:20 • PWS Dolphins
milling, southeast of Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
Damien Dawson, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Jun 25 2022
–:– • PWS Dolphins heading east, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
–:– • PWS Dolphins heading north just north of Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Stuart Clark, Stan Novotny Productions
14:45 • 60 PWS Dolphins heading west above Rock Bay.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
14:45 • PWS Dolphins heading west between Rock Bay and Little Bear Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
19:25 • PWS Dolphins heading south off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Big group.
19:39 • PWS Dolphins
spread out and playing, between Walkem Islands and Little Bear Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Jun 26 2022
12:40 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins just south of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:15 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins
milling, off Eagle Cove on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
Mon Jun 27 2022
08:25 • PWS Dolphins at the very end of Port Neville, Johnstone Strait.
Big group.
09:32 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins off Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
16:02 • PWS Dolphins
foraging, in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Devon Andersen, Brown’s Bay Resort
DALLS PORPOISE
Mon Jun 20 2022
12:00 • Dalls Porpoise
being hunted in Arran Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Sun Jun 26 2022
14:15 • est. 2-3 Harbour Porpoise at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
SEA OTTERS
Thu Jun 23 2022
16:20 • Sea Otters off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
SPECIES UNSURE
Fri Jun 24 2022
10:05 • Species Unsure south of Cyril Rock near the north tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Saw blows from Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sean Percy, Powell River, BC
