Many Transient Biggs Orca Observed!
Cover Image:
Transient Biggs Killer Whale in Malaspina Strait
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
During the past few weeks, many Transient Orca were observed and reported to us in upper Georgia Strait and in many inland waterways. Transient Orca were also appearing quite regularly in other areas of the province, such as in Howe Sound and off Vancouver in Burrard Inlet. Our cover image shows a young Orca breaching off Powell River on May 10. The Orca was seen breaching many times over a couple of hours which is unusual. Thank you Michelle Pennell for sharing your picture of this energetic Orca!
In addition to the Orca, Humpback whales in our waters have steadily increased as the year continues to approach the summer months. Pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins have appeared with some pods numbering around 50 individuals. Rounding our report are sightings of Grey whales, Dall’s porpoises, and Harbour porpoises.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay 400m away from all killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2024.” 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 OR while viewing any Cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins, and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, 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.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2023-007
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed May 03 2023
13:00 • 1 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading south in Trincomali Channel. Swam straight to boat (engines stopped as soon as fin spotted – aways off) and passed along side. No photos. Quick encounter. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
CJP, Nanaimo, BC
Thu May 04 2023
10:48 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north between Van Anda and Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait.
Brenda Currie, Powell River, BC
11:30 • 1 Biggs Orca heading north, east of Trail Islands, Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. One big fin. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Mon May 08 2023
10:48 • Biggs Orca heading north at Mace Point, Malaspina Strait.
Rick Thaddeus, Savary Island, BC
10:54 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ east of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
10:59 • Biggs Orca heading north, west of Spilsbury Point, Baker Passage.
11:31 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading for Baker Passage.
11:54 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ between Sutil Point and Twin Islands, Baker Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:11 • est. 8+ Biggs Orca heading north at Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
12:23 • est. 12 Biggs Orca 3/4 mile off the largest of the Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ milling, close to the west side of Twin Islands, Baker Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Baker Passage
Mon, 8 May 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Baker Passage
Mon, 8 May 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:40 • 6 Biggs Orca heading north approaching Kinghorn Island, Desolation Sound.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue May 09 2023
08:15 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north at Cosby Point, Loughborough Inlet.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
12:55 • Biggs Orca heading south between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Malaspina Strait.
13:40 • est. 10 Biggs Orca heading south, 1 mile west of Manson Passage, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:47 • Biggs Orca heading north at the 50th Parallel Marker, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
13:54 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T125A,T128◦ heading north at the Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage.
14:23 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T125A,T128◦ passing Argonaut Wharf in Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
14:45 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T125A,T128◦ at Tyee Spit, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
18:00 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north at Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
18:57 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca hunting, just out from the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
19:01 • Biggs Orca breaching, back and forth out from the Powell River Ferry Terminal. Juvenile.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
20:48 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north by Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. 3 big fins.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Wed May 10 2023
10:20 • Biggs Orca heading north-west out from Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:26 • Biggs Orca angling towards Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
11:26 • 4 Biggs Orca hunting, between Viner Point and Lake Bay, Sutil Channel.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:02 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north at Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Big fins. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Wed, 10 May 2023 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Wed, 10 May 2023 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:55 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north from Deer Passage into Calm Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu May 11 2023
10:00 • Biggs Orca off Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:15 • Biggs Orca heading south, Sliammon / Tla’amin Nation, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Thu, 11 May 2023 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Thu, 11 May 2023 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
11:31 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north-west in Cordero Channel.
Nova Tulloch, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:00 • Biggs Orca at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
13:15 • Biggs Orca by Shoal Bay, Cordero Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:10 • 3 Biggs Orca heading west approaching Fittleton Point, Chancellor Channel.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri May 12 2023
11:00 • Biggs Orca heading north just south of Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.
11:30 • Biggs Orca near Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat May 13 2023
11:00 • Biggs Orca heading south, Homfray Channel.
12:00 • Biggs Orca off Deep Bay, Baynes Sound.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:34 • Biggs Orca heading south approaching Deep Bay.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun May 14 2023
09:00 • Biggs Orca heading north coming out of Okeover Inlet, Malaspina Inlet.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
11:15 • Biggs Orca breaching, off Price Point, Homfray Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:20 • Biggs Orca at the entrance to Homfray Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
11:50 • Biggs Orca off Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:05 • est. 9-10 Biggs Orca heading north off Booker Point, East Redonda Island, Homfray Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
13:26 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T065A5,T101s◦ heading north, Center Islet north-west of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
13:52 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north-east between Hill Island and Center Islet, Sutil Channel. Other Orca with T101s.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
15:30 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T065A5,T101s◦ off Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
15:30 • est. 10 Biggs Orca in Homfray Channel. Two groups met up in Homfray. One group came out of Okeover this morning. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Mon May 15 2023
09:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T023Cs, T090s◦ heading south, Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. with the newly born T023C6.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
09:44 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north off Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait. T101s plus an extra small fin. Heading up the east side of the islands.
10:36 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading east in front of Cortes Bay, Cortes Island, Malaspina Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:00 • Biggs Orca breaching, just south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. large group.
13:00 • est. 8 Biggs Orca ◦T023s,T060s◦ heading south mid strait out from Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:00 • 4 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south-east off Sliammon, Malaspina Strait. One large Orca, 2 medium, and one small Orca.
Heather Armstrong, Powell River, BC
14:56 • Biggs Orca taking long dives, heading south from Orange Point towards April Point in the middle of Discovery Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
17:30 • Biggs Orca heading south quite far out from the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 15 May 2023 – 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 15 May 2023 – 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
18:25 • Biggs Orca heading south close in to Westview, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
19:25 • est. 12+ Biggs Orca heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Fri, 5 May 2023 – 2 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Fri, 5 May 2023 – 2 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed May 03 2023
12:51 • Humpback Whales heading south off the Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat May 06 2023
14:00 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
14:00 • Humpback Whales, Deer Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:15 • 2 Humpback Whales 1.1 nm southeast of Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Zoe Hasenfratz, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:22 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0946 Slits,BCY1021 Neptune◦ heading south on spoil ground, south of green can buoy on Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Georgia Strait
Sat, 6 May 2023 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Georgia Strait
Sat, 6 May 2023 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue May 09 2023
11:55 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:07 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
15:35 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, between Maud Island and Race Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed May 10 2023
09:15 • Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:40 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
14:20 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0946 Slits,BCY1021 Neptune◦ bucking tide, at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:03 • Humpback Whales heading south in Discovery Passage.
17:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri May 12 2023
11:40 • Humpback Whales heading south, south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Georgia Strait
Fri, 12 May 2023 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Georgia Strait
Fri, 12 May 2023 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:00 • 2 Humpback Whales off Point Holmes southeast of the airport at Comox, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:06 • Humpback Whales heading north off Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Nova Tulloch, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat May 13 2023
14:30 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sun May 14 2023
09:15 • Humpback Whales off the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:36 • Humpback Whales off the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy in the middle of Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
14:37 • Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue May 16 2023
13:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east, east of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
GREY WHALES
Sat May 06 2023
16:00 • Grey Whales off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
16:45 • 1 Grey Whales between Francisco Point and Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Tue May 02 2023
16:05 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading north outside Big Bay, Yuculta Rapids.
16:29 • 6 PWS Dolphins heading south at the Okisollo Wave off Cooper Point, Okisollo Channel.
16:53 • PWS Dolphins off Granite Point, Discovery Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu May 04 2023
12:15 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading north off Maud Island in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Tyler Bruce, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri May 05 2023
16:55 • PWS Dolphins abeam Heydon Bay, Loughborough Inlet. Big group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon May 08 2023
09:00 • 2 PWS Dolphins milling, heading north opposite Tuwanek Point, Sechelt Inlet. Surfaced once. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Denny Winkler, Semiahmoo Secondary School
Wed May 10 2023
08:00 • PWS Dolphins heading west in Greene Point Rapids, Cordero Channel. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun May 14 2023
09:00 • PWS Dolphins near Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:26 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading north off April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
14:37 • PWS Dolphins off Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:04 • PWS Dolphins milling, outside the entrance to Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue May 16 2023
15:05 • PWS Dolphins off Sarah Point, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:10 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins milling, off Sarah Point.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:40 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins between Kinghorn Island and Sarah Point, Desolation Sound.
17:08 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Nova Tulloch, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed May 17 2023
14:00 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Kaitlin Paquette, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:20 • 6 PWS Dolphins milling, off Wilby Shoals. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:35 • 10 PWS Dolphins milling, off Talbot Islet, Teakerne Arm.
John Lewis, Campbell River Whale Watching
DALLS PORPOISE
Sat May 06 2023
11:30 • Dalls Porpoise in front of Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed May 17 2023
10:38 • 12 Dalls Porpoise milling, heading north of Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Wed May 03 2023
11:17 • 6 Harbour Porpoise off the Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
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