Whales Breaching!
Cover Image:
Humpback Whales Breaching!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Whales are amazing to watch whether from land or by boat. Often, individuals are lucky to see whales breach, meaning when the whales propel their bodies vertically out of the water as in our cover image. Humpback whales and Orca are species often seen breaching here in B.C. waters. Some of the reasons whales breach include communicating with other individuals and being playful. Other notable behaviours in our sighting reports include lunge-feeding and pectoral slaps by Humpback whales, and spy-hopping by Orca. Keep your distance from all Cetaceans as described in the paragraph below to protect them and for your safety.
PLEASE NOTE: Our links currently show as broken, but they DO work. We apologize for any confusion as we continue to wait for a fix.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay 400-m away and may not position a vessel in the path of killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2025.” 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. A great resource for up to date Canadian or US regulations: Be Whale Wise Guidelines
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
Donatons:
Thank you all for your kind and continuing donations. Your support is greatly appreciated to keep us going.
Websites:
Whales and Dolphins BC is our educational website where these reports are also published and our Wild Ocean Whale site is our Society website. Information on our Feral Cat Initiative will be updated again soon.
Instagram and Twitter: Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter (on hold for now) at WhalesDolphins
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 many whales and the Aurora Borealis.
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.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are slowly being revamped (we’re volunteers too, so sorry for the delays) and not yet on our web sites.
Data For Research:
For research access to 33,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2024-010
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Jun 24 2024
11:35 • Biggs Orca by Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
11:40 • Biggs Orca off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
12:40 • Biggs Orca in Denham Bay, Dent Rapids.
14:10 • Biggs Orca by Owen Point heading towards Frederick Arm, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
16:15 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north-west between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Two big males.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Tue Jun 25 2024
07:30 • Biggs Orca between the Breton Islands, Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
08:32 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca heading north past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
09:00 • Biggs Orca ?T101s, T090s? by Henrietta Point, Bute Inlet.
11:23 • Biggs Orca in Okisollo Channel.
11:40 • Biggs Orca heading south-west in Beazley Passage coming out of Okisollo Channel into Hoskyn Channel.
12:45 • Biggs Orca heading into Bute Inlet. while the other group continued down Hoskyn Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:09 • 2 Biggs Orca ?T087, T049A2? heading south at Dunsterville Islet, Hoskyn Channel. Two males.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T087, T049A2 – heading south at Dunsterville Islet, Hoskyn Channel
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T087, T049A2 – heading south at Dunsterville Islet, Hoskyn Channel
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:04 • est. 3+ Biggs Orca doing circles, heading north possibly, between Harwood Island out from Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Jun 26 2024
08:45 • est. 5-10 Biggs Orca foraging, heading north-west, Northwest Bay, Nanoose, Georgia Strait. Swimming very close to shore. ? Observed from Shore
MH, Nanoose Bay, BC
10:45 • Biggs Orca heading south from Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:10 • Biggs Orca ?T090s,T101s? milling, between Jimmy Judd Island and Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T090s, T101s – milling, between Jimmy Judd Island and Dent Island, Dent Rapids
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T090s, T101s – milling, between Jimmy Judd Island and Dent Island, Dent Rapids
Wed, 26 Jun 2024 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Jun 28 2024
12:00 • 5 Biggs Orca spy hopping, in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt Inlet. ? Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:30 • Biggs Orca out from Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Jun 29 2024
11:00 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north getting close to Bullock Bluff out of Lewis Channel.
12:20 • 2 Biggs Orca at the top of the Copeland Islands Marine Park, Malaspina Strait.
12:55 • Biggs Orca heading south by Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
15:00 • 4 Biggs Orca heading towards Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. after milling around Bullock Bluff for quite a while.
15:58 • Biggs Orca milling, north of Penn Islands. I was there for an hour and they remained at that spot the entire time.
Radio, overheard or call out
18:00 • Biggs Orca ?T100s? near Cortes Island inside Von Donop Inlet. After a kill, they didn’t look like they were in a hurry to go anywhere.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Sun Jun 30 2024
09:00 • Biggs Orca heading north off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
11:55 • 4 Biggs Orca ?T101s? off Major Rock Islet, Malaspina Strait. Were heading towards Lund.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:57 • Biggs Orca ?T101s? heading south off Mace Point, Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Two pods in the area.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
Mon Jul 01 2024
16:18 • Biggs Orca at Wilby Shoals south of Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
16:40 • Biggs Orca by the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Jul 03 2024
08:30 • 4 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading south at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ? Second Hand
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:40 • Biggs Orca ?T090s? heading south by Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
13:45 • Biggs Orca ?T090s? heading north up by Surge Narrows after rounding Cape Mudge pointed towards whiterock passage Hoskyn Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:30 • Biggs Orca ?T090s? heading south approaching King Islets, Hoskyn Channel. ? Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T090s – heading south approaching King Islets, Hoskyn Channel
Wed, 3 Jul 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer whales – T090s – heading south approaching King Islets, Hoskyn Channel
Wed, 3 Jul 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:30 • 4 Biggs Orca heading west between Harwood / Ahgykson Island and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Jul 04 2024
15:10 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca breaching, heading south between Westview and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
21:45 • est. 3 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south-east, Cowichan Bay. ? Observed from Shore
KB, Cowichan Bay
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Thu Jun 27 2024
17:45 • est. 3-5 Orca moving quickly, heading north-west between Vesuvius and Crofton, Stuart Channel. ? From Ferry
JW, Vesuvius, Salt Spring Island , BC
Fri Jun 28 2024
18:00 • est. 4-5 Orca breaching, near Trial Islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Needed my binoculars to see them – viewed from Trafalgar Park, Victoria. I was there for an hour and they remained at that spot the entire time breaching, slapping their tails, and raising their heads/spyhopping. ? Observed from Shore
Kristina Mangligot, Victoria, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Jun 24 2024
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:50 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Donkersley Beach south of Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. The pair were observed to be a mother and calf.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:20 • Humpback Whales near the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:00 • 3 Humpback Whales close to Marble Bluff, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
12:07 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south near the Spoil Grounds south of Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
13:08 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, off Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. The pair were observed to be a mother and calf.
14:13 • est. 7+ Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 – 9 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 – 9 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:33 • 1 Humpback Whales between Powell River Viewpoint and Grilse Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between Powell River Viewpoint and Grilse Point, Malaspina Strait
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between Powell River Viewpoint and Grilse Point, Malaspina Strait
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:33 • 1 Humpback Whales off Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
17:20 • 2 Humpback Whales north-west of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
20:10 • 3 Humpback Whales taking long dives, off Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Tue Jun 25 2024
08:30 • Humpback Whales breaching, by Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
09:30 • 3 Humpback Whales between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
09:50 • Humpback Whales in Hoskyn Channel.
11:20 • 3 Humpback Whales with Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading east off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading east off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading into Greenway Sound.
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
19:47 • 2 Humpback Whales north side of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Jun 27 2024
12:18 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading north out from Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Fri Jun 28 2024
07:15 • 3 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, off Emmonds Beach south of Lund, Malaspina Strait. Report form friend who only saw the whales once. ? Second Hand
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
08:15 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south in front of the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ? Observed from Shore
SW, Powell River, BC
08:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south close to Powell River Viewpoint.
SW, Powell River, BC
10:30 • Humpback Whales heading south-west from Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
10:30 • 2 Humpback Whales Mom and calf by Spilsbury Point, Baker Passage.
10:45 • 5+ Humpback Whales south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
11:40 • Humpback Whales out from Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Entangled in prawn or crab gear. ID’d as Vector.
11:55 • 3 Humpback Whales heading west out of Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:30 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching and pectoral slapping, off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Mother and calf pair. ? Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales breaching and pectoral slapping, off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales breaching and pectoral slapping, off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait
Fri, 28 Jun 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:50 • Humpback Whales breaching, in front of Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Jun 29 2024
07:00 • Humpback Whales breaching, out from Van Anda, Malaspina Strait. breached a good seven times.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
12:50 • Humpback Whales heading south between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
17:03 • 2 Humpback Whales by Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
17:03 • 2 Humpback Whales at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sun Jun 30 2024
09:30 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north includes a calf by Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
09:45 • 2 Humpback Whales by Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
09:45 • 3 Humpback Whales by the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
12:45 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:30 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south off Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
16:06 • 1 Humpback Whales in the middle of Sutil Channel.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Mon Jul 01 2024
12:45 • Humpback Whales out from Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
13:45 • 1 Humpback Whales off the Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
20:45 • 2+ Humpback Whales south off Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Jul 02 2024
10:15 • Humpback Whales south off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
20:17 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales on the Powell River side of the channel half way between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood / Ahgykson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Jul 03 2024
11:40 • Humpback Whales just above King Islets, Hoskyn Channel.
13:45 • 2 Humpback Whales north off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:10 • est. 4-5 Humpback Whales between marina buoy and Mitlenatch Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between marina buoy and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait
Wed, 3 Jul 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales between marina buoy and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait
Wed, 3 Jul 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:10 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales ?BCY0862 Apollo,BCZ0338 Geometry? by Mitlenatch Island.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Jul 04 2024
10:15 • 3 Humpback Whales on Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
12:04 • 4 Humpback Whales breaching, out from Bates Beach, Georgia Strait.
13:00 • 5+ Humpback Whales all around Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
13:20 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales on Ajax Bank west of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
13:20 • 2 Humpback Whales another couple near the top of Grassy Point Community Park north-east tip of Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:22 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading south near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, off the Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Jun 24 2024
09:00 • PWS Dolphins between Browns Bay and Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
10:10 • est. 40-50 PWS Dolphins out from Chatham Point, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Jun 25 2024
11:20 • PWS Dolphins with 3 Humpbacks Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
18:15 • PWS Dolphins off Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Jun 27 2024
17:00 • PWS Dolphins in Broughton Lagoon off Greenway Sound. Well, we had quite the treat today . . . saw numerous Pacific White-sided Dolphins while in a skiff. After they played in our wake and bow waves they headed to the rapids to feed. We moved about the lagoon and when we returned to where we first saw them, they were no where to be seen.
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Broughton Lagoon off Greenway Sound
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 – 1 items
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Broughton Lagoon off Greenway Sound
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 – 1 items
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
Fri Jun 28 2024
13:30 • est. 15-20 PWS Dolphins off Bold Point, Hoskyn Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
18:05 • PWS Dolphins at Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Jun 30 2024
13:50 • PWS Dolphins heading south by Sonora Point, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Jul 01 2024
10:31 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins just inside Von Donop Inlet. Cortes Island.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
DALLS PORPOISE
Mon Jul 01 2024
13:00 • est. 5-6 Dalls Porpoise by Walcan Seafood Plant, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Jun 24 2024
10:50 • est. 4 Harbour Porpoise foraging, near the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
17:10 • est. 12+ Harbour Porpoise heading north-west near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Sun Jun 30 2024
08:30 • est. 2-3 Harbour Porpoise moving slowly, heading south-east off Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. ? Observed from Shore
SS, Texas, USA
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