Have You Seen Any of These?

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Transient Bigg's Orca, Pacific White Sided Dolphins, Dall's and Harbour Porpoise

Appearing / disappearing Transient Bigg's Orca on the hunt. They have been doing such long dives that finding them after a dive can be difficult. They seem to pop up where neither people scanning the water, nor their prey, expect. They've been hunting Pacific White Sided Dolphins, seals, sea lions and Harbour Porpoise. No word if they've noticed the Dall's Porpoise around yet, but a great spotting report with photos below.
Something noteworthy is that the Bigg's Killer Whales appear to have a revised method for attacking their prey lately. The past number of sightings have had the Transient's doing long dives, then come up underneath their prey to grab and take them underwater rather than flinging them up or a full frontal surface attack. It's not just one family group hunting in this revised manner now....interesting.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?

Transient Bigg's Orca on the hunt by Dent Rapids
April 19, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales


April 19:
1:41 pm 6 or so Orca by Dent Rapids looking like they're on the hunt.
3:30 pm (approx) Left Orca by Lawrence Point Bute Inlet heading into theinlet. T101 and T102 for sure. There were 10 or more whales in total.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 18:
Around 11:30 am (rec'd 5:25 pm) Orca spotted at a distance from the Comox to Powell River ferry. No directions or numbers.
Kate Groves, Campbell River

April 17:
2 pm 2 Orca Southbound tight to shore by Grief Point.
John Treen, Powell River

April 17:
1.:41 pm Two Orca Southbound, foot of Penticton Ave, (Powell River) moving slowly....looks like a female and a youngster........
Grant Rainsley, Powell River

Transient Bigg's Orca by Copeland Islands (Savary Isl. in background)
April 13, 2014
Julie Leon

April 15:
8:15 am April 15th 3-4 orca passing Grief Point, heading slowly towards Westview, Powell River.
Joanne Brough, Powell River

April 15:
8:20 am 6 – 7 Orca Northbound by Powell River Grief Point. There's 2 larger dorsals.
9:15 am Went down to the viewpoint to take a better look. One male has quite a white saddle patch while the second big male's looked almost a bit orange in colour. They stopped between viewpoint and Harwood Island – possibly on food?
John Treen, Powell River

April 15:
8:34 am My neighbour says there’s 3 whales 500 yards off shore heading North at the bottom of Oliver Street. Have a great day,
Shirley Randall, Powell River

April 15:
8:25 am 4 – 5 Orca including 1 large dorsal Northbound by Penticton Ave. Powell River.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River

April 15:
10:19 am Transient Bigg's Orca still milling in front of Powell River on a kill. They're half way between the Westview ferry terminal and Harwood Isl. 5 Orca surfaced at once plus there's two larger (male) dorsals together but a bit farther off from the rest. Looks like the T02C's (T02C2 has scoliosis of the spine which has left her with a progressive and distinctive deformity of the spine).
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transient Bigg's Orca by Dent Islands
T02C2's distinctive and deformed dorsal
April 19, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 15:
11:30 am Last time I saw the Orca, they were still in the same spot. Lost track after that.
Judy Brant, Powell River

April 15:
11:38 am Report of Orca killing a Sea Lion in Seymour Narrows an hour ago from a friend. No numbers.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 15:
12:48 pm Orcas are just passing the mill (Campbell River) Southbound from a friend.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching

April 15:
1:05 pm The Orca are now in front of the Coast Marina Campbell River. They're mid-channel and still Southbound.
Lee, Adventure Quest

April 15:
1:43 pm 4 - 6 Transient Bigg's Orca at Shelter Point, south of Campbell River.
There's also a group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins by Shelter Point – haven't seen the Orca for a bit (10 min). Look like the same Orca I had yesterday.
Wow, they came up from underneath and took a Dolphin! Unbelievable! Wasn't expecting that ambush.
2:48 pm Left the Orca 2 miles off Mitlenatch Island. They're the T023's.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 15:
2:45 pm The 4 – 6 Orca are between Salmon Point and Mitlenatch Island. A bit SW of Mitlenatch.
Around 3:40 – 3:45 pm Had a brief glimpse of maybe 4 Orca close to Mitlenatch. Not sure who or what direction. They were on the South side of the island possibly foraging when we left.
Geoff Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris

April 15:
Around 3 pm I think the Orca split up. I only saw 1 or maybe 2 in heavy seas above Mitlenatch.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

April 14:
1:30 pm (rec'd later) Had 2 groups of Orca up towards Toba Inlet one group was all small fins (females) 6 in that one.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 13:
No time given in email: We also had a pod of whales pass us on April 13 as we were heading north at the Copelands (across from Lund and Bliss Landing). I am attaching a few pictures of those as well.
Julie Leon

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins Shelter Point
April 15, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 19:
11:14 am Around 20 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Gowland Harbour, across from Campbell River between the spit and Copper Bluffs.
Radio: Steve on fishboat

April 19:
1:30 pm 15 PWS Dolphins between Aran Rapids and Lawrence Point, Bute Inlet.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures

April 15:
1:40 pm 10 or so Pacific White Sided Dolphins off Shelter Point – the Transient Bigg's Orca have done a long dive – around 10 minutes. We stopped well off the Dolphins and they cruised past our bow then stopped briefly. Suddenly they exploded out of the water when the the Orca ambushed and grabbed one. It looked almost like they let it go since they (the Orca) just continued on their way. No obvious evidence of a kill.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

Dall's Porpoise

April 14:
No time given in email: Wasn’t sure if we have Dall’s Porpoise around here or not and I am wondering if that is what we saw yesterday, April 14. We were staying at Attwood Bay in Homfray Channel (Desolation Sound) when the porpoise came in. They stayed in the bay for several hours. Our estimate is that there were about 20 porpoise. I clearly saw a large white patch on the lower flanks and the dorsal fins were white tipped with a black base. Their “bottoms” appeared a bit chunky when they dove. I am attaching some pictures for you – sorry it is the best we could get but maybe you could confirm for us that it was Dall’s that we saw. (Definitely Dall's and great photos too! - SM)
Julie Leon

Dall's Porpoise in Homfray Channel
April 14, 2014
Julie Leon

Harbour Porpoise

April 14:
9:29 am 2 Harbour Porpoise by Twin Islands
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

Links in the News

A very nice compilation of people helping animals...not only Cetaceans, but there are a couple of segments of course.

Friend and neighbour, Judy came over to video the Hummingbird evening feeding frenzy on my deck. It may start slow, but the Hummers arrived in numbers as they do every evening. I know many readers enjoy the information I've posted over the years on my Hummingbirds, so thought I'd post the link to this clip.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Transient Bigg's Orca back and forth in Georgia Strait

A major increase in Cetacean sightings from a slow start to April. Most of the sightings reported are Transient Bigg's Orca, but it appears they have finally moved back into our areas. It does help that more people are on the water. The Orca have been around, but they have passed a few times in stealth mode or after dark. We also have a couple of Porpoise sightings to report.
Apologies for running late with updates, it's not for lack of trying. Please remember to call your sightings in. Every report is valuable!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?


TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Transients T02C's by Harwood Island
April 10, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 13:
3:24 pm Orca Northbound in Lambert Channel by Hornby Island towards Comox.
From Radio

April 13:
6:04 pm I'm seeing signs of splashes and blows just above Comox...looks like they're still Northbound but slowed in the bay above the Little River ferry terminal.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 13:
No time given: Some Orca right at the head of Toba Inlet today near the camp barge. No time or numbers given, but I presume they're hunting Dolphins.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

April 12:
10 am Report of 8 to 10 Orca Southbound at Viner Point, Read Island, from friend.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

April 12:
10 am (rec'd late afternoon) 6 Orca by Rendezvous Islands.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventues

April 12:
2:30 pm Between 15 to 18 Transient Orca in couple of groups by Shelter Point. One group has 9 and the other has at least 6. Looks like the males are all in together and the females are closer to the Vancouver Island shore. Seeing spy hops, breaching and some wake riding behind another boat. They are Southbound but seemed to stall.
2:50 pm There's another big gang of at least another 12 off Francisco Point angling to meet up with these ones.
Carl, Scholar Hollar (Carl runs fishing charters from Campbell River)

Transients T02C's by Harwood Island
April 10, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 12:
3:30 pm Leaving around 24 Transient Bigg's Orca angling from Salmon Point towards the NW tip of Texada. They were spread out before but seem to have grouped up. There are a number of calves / juveniles and a couple of really big dorsals.
Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures

April 12:
5:41 pm Signs of Orca close to the Comox ferry terminal. I can see blows and the odd splash.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 11:
10:38 am Possible Orca (or Pacific White Sided Dolphins) by Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
From very broken radio chatter.

April 11:
11:40 am 2 Orca, both big dorsals Northbound towards Myrtle Rocks.
Nina Falls, Powell River

April 11:
5:28 pm Orca Northbound off VanAnda, Texada Isl. Can't get a handle on the numbers since they're closer to Texada. Seeing blows and dorsals and some splashes.
Bill Taylor, Powell River

April 11:
6:30 pm Between 6 to 8 Orca heading towards the Blubber Bay light closer to Texada. They were porpoising then staying down for a bit.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 11:
7:05 pm 8 to 9 Orca, maybe more, heading along mainland side past Powell River towards Lund. We first saw some Orca blows and splashes from the restaurant we were at around 6:40 pm. Watching from home, their blows are backlit by the waning sun and really show up nicely. They were spread out into a couple of smaller groups with 5 in one group and 2 or 3 trailing the rest.
7:30 pm The numbers seemed to increase once they got closer to the Harwood spit. Definitely 9 all surfaced at one time in a line with another group behind. Certainly more now than when they passed in front of Powell River proper. Continuing North towards Lund.
Steve and Susan Grover, Powell River

April 10:
11:35 am 4 to 5 Orca Northbound by Grief Point, Powell River.
John Treen, Powell River

April 10:
12:30 pm Spotted the Orca by some boats fishing towards Rebecca Rocks.
12:56 pm Orca slowly angling towards Vivian Island from Blubber Bay, Texada Island. They were doing long, 10 to 15 min. dives I kept losing them till they stopped to take a sea lion off Blubber Bay. Nothing worse than having a dead camera battery! Cell phone photos, using the zoom, are not very clear unless there's plenty of light. Even without the camera it was easy to tell it was the T02C's. I left the whales with Garry and his tour around 3 pm.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Transients T02C's by Rebecca Rocks
April 10, 2014
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

April 10:
4:30 pm Left the T02's Orca 2 miles NW off Vivian Island heading South at 6 knots. They had continued doing long dives and just cruising till just before leaving them when they came to life a bit.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

April 9:
7:09 pm Just to let you know that I counted 4 Orca passing Westview, Powell River tonight in two groups, a male and large female in the first group and a smaller female and possibly a juvenile or young adult in the second group. We watched them for about 30 minutes until they went behind trees at about 7:30 pm. It was great to see Orca again in our neighborhood.
Steve Grover, Powell River

April 9:
7:30 pm Between 5 to 6 Orca Southbound in front of Westview, Powell River. (Once I got eyes on them they were definitely Transient Bigg's Orca. SM)
Sherri Wretham, Powell River

April 9:
8:15 pm. Just spotted two Orca, one large and one much smaller, slowly heading south down the Malaspina Straight near Myrtle Rocks.
Holly Roy, Powell River

April 7:
9:00 am: 5 Orca off the Ragged (Copeland) Islands, off Lund heading North close to the mainland.
9:30 am: I was sure I saw 5 Orca, but when I got out there I only found 3. There was one male, and one calf with its Mum. They were headed towards Sarah Point (Northbound).
Gordie Coles, Savary Island / Lund

April 7:
1:45 pm Orca (no numbers given) off Chatham Point heading North-West.
Cam M.

April 3:
4:53 pm: Left the T002C's southbound by Deepwater Bay (Quadra Island) at 4:45 pm. Found them at Kanish Bay (also on Quadra) around 3:45pm. They were moving really slow at first, hugging the beach.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

April 2:
12:52 pm: Report of Orca near Yuculta Rapids around 8:00 am this morning. No number or direction – from Water Taxi friend.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Transients T02C's by Harwood Island
April 10, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

PORPOISE

April 11: (and almost every day!)
Morning and evening trips: Dall's and/or Harbour Porpoise seem to reside in the area between Savary Island and Hernando Island. I usually come across 3 - 4 of them together feeding closer to Hernando almost every crossing I make. Most often they're about .5 to 1 mile off my path, but once in a while they're a bit closer.
Eric Ferreira, Savary Island

April 10:
2:45 pm 2 Harbour Porpoise by Harwood Island angling towards Atrevida Reef and away from the T02c's who were closer to the Georgia Strait side of Vivian Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Orca and Porpoise - Cetacean Sightings

Transient Bigg's Killer Whales and Harbour Porpoise. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins must have scattered, but where? A water taxi reported through Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours. that in the past week he's seen Orca in Toba Inlet, Rendezvous Islands and Hole in the Wall. They may be following the Dolphins, but no other reports of them have come in.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?


TRANSIENT BIGGS' KILLER WHALES

Transient Bigg's Orca (T19B?)
April 1, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

April 1:
9:00 am: 4 to 5 Orca foraging off the south end of Marina. (not clear if it was 'the' Marina Discovery Harbour in Campbell River or Marina Island, by Cortez Island - SM)
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.

April 1:
12:14 pm: Report from my Tug boat buddy of 6 or 7 Orca milling at Separation Head (Quadra Island) at 12:10 pm. Two large fins, he said.
2:52 pm: There are 6 Orca southbound at Race Point. (near Brown's Bay) No big fins.
4:06 pm: They are at Cape Mudge, southbound.
4:18 pm Ran into another group of 5 or 6 Orca Southbound by the red can buoy off Cape Mudge. 1 Large male looks like T19B. Lost the other ones.
5:29 pm: Left the T19 and gang one mile from Mittlenatch heading your way. (Towards Powell River.)
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

March 31:
10:15 am: Six or seven Orca are southbound at Race Point. There is one large male in the group.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.

March 31:
1:29 pm: 5 – 7 Transient Orca southbound at Cape Mudge Village (Quadra Island.) Large males, at least 20 ft., 5 – 7 animals.
Short time later: Those Orca are heading past Cape Mudge Southbound – They're flying!
Nick & Janeen Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.

Transient Bigg's Orca
April 1, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

March 28:
2 to 3 pm 1 Orca Southbound off the Powell River Sea Walk. Report from my sister received March 29th.
Judy Brant, Powell River

March 27:
9:20 am Orca.....somewhere heard broken radio transmission - SM.
Radio

March 27:
12:15 pm: Orca in front of Brown's Bay. No numbers or direction.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.

March 27:
4:00 pm: My father in law saw seven Orca southbound by the mouth of the Campbell River, mid channel, around 4:00 pm. There was one big fin.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours.

March 26:
1:00 pm: The T002's are northbound, approaching Old Church House on Stuart Island in Calm Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching.

HARBOUR PORPOISE


March 27:
7:50 pm: There was a small group of Harbour Porpoise out front about 100 yards off Roberts Creek Pier the past few mornings. So nice to watch these guys just passing through.
Geordie Harrower, Roberts Creek.


Transient Bigg's Orca
April 1, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

LINKS IN THE NEWS

My apologies for a mistake I made on the most recent report. A link which was supposed to go to a news story about Pacific White Sided Dolphins led instead to a different news story. Here now is the link to that dolphin story:
(Lynne)

Meanwhile, it seems that here has been a significant breakthrough in our understanding of cetacean language. A computer program has recognized the dolphin word for “seaweed”!

The long awaited decision of the World Court at the Hague regarding the Japanese Whaling program in the Antarctic was finally released, resulting in a complete ban on Japanese Whaling in that part of the world. A massive victory for Australia, New Zealand, animal activists, and of course the endangered whales of the Southern Ocean. Here are a couple of links to that story:


And finally a commentary on the whaling ban by Carl Safina, award winning scientist and author, and host of a PBS television series:

Transient Bigg's Orca
April 1, 2014
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whales and Grizzly Bear Tours

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society