It's been very busy all
round, but the Transient Bigg's Killer Whales that were in the upper
Georgia Strait in numbers up to 15 whales, have once again shed from
our area. The Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Humpback Whales are
coming back, and Dall's and Harbour Porpoise are making a bit more of
an appearance.
And so have we: the two
days of the Lund Shellfish Festival allowed us the opportunity to
speak with many people. We deemed it a success! Our next information
tables and 2015 Summer Fundraising Raffle ticket sales will be at:
Campbell River:
Quality Foods May 28th
Powell River:
Town Center Mall May 28 and May 29th
Sechelt: Trail
Bay Mall (Clayton's) May 28 and May 29th
We hope to meet some of
you there!
Tickets
are also available on
line.
Details available at: 2015
Summer Raffle
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
2015
Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get
your tickets in time for our EARLY
BIRD DRAW!
- June 21, 2015
see
2015
Summer Raffle
for full details – Tickets only $5 each.
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S ORCA
Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales
May 23, 2015
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
May 25:
9:00 am: We have been
working on Howe Sound for several months on a marine trail project,
traveling in a powered skiff. We have not seen Orca there before but
this morning three or more, likely four whales were traveling south
off the north end of Anvil Island on the west side, i.e. Heading
along Ramillies Channel.
There was one presumed
male with a very large fin, one smaller and one or likely two quite
small ones, possibly calves. They surfaced frequently for a while
then sounded and we did not wait around to see where they went. It is
good to see marine life in Howe Sound. The area's seals appeared to
be keeping a low profile today – none sighted. Usually there will
be half a dozen at least.
Nick Heath and 2
others, BCMTNA and Sea Kayak Assn of BC.
May 23:
Three Orca at Rebecca
Spit on Quadra Island, southbound. This came from a prawn fisherman
friend – he said there was one large fin in the group.
(???) Twelve Orca mid
strait by Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, northbound.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 23:
9:17 am: Orca heading
towards Cortez Island.
9:19 am: Orca
northbound near Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.
(from radio)
May 23:
11:10 am: Orca
southbound. Looks like the same group we had in Powell River.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 23:
12:06 pm: Looks like 15
animals total. They are three miles off the Vancouver Island
shoreline still southbound approximately 3.5 miles south of Cape
Mudge on Quadra Island. They are Transient Bigg's Orca T023's, T101's
and T102, T124C, T124, T124D, T124E, new calf last year (T124D1) and
T049C.
3:05 pm: We are with
the Transient Bigg's approximately four miles off the Vancouver
Island shoreline just south of Black Creek now.
3:44 pm: Leaving now.
They are starting to spread out a bit as we leave. They are about
five miles north of the Powell River line, still heading south,
southeast.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 21:
10:50 am: About 10 Orca
seem to be chasing something about one nautical mile east of Grant
Reefs buoy at the present time.
11:24 am: We think
there are about 15 Orca with 4-5 large males. They put on a good show
for a while. They seem to have stayed in 2 or 3 pods. They are now
hanging out on the south west edge of Stradiotti reef.
12:25 pm: Orca came in
from the North West to about two nautical miles south from the east
end of Savary Island. There was lots of activity. Then they went
north west to near Stradiotti Reef and then reversed again. After
that they went along the edge of the deep water along the sand
shallows south of Savary. They have now gone past Mystery Reef and
are mostly across the channel a short distance north west of the
Atrevida Reef marker. I have now lost track of them.
Ron Johnston.
May 21:
3:45
pm: I left Orca with Jos crossing to the bay just below Vananda on
Texada Island, apparently southbound.
These
are Transient Bigg's Orca, with the T49a's in there.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins B.C.
May 21:
4:15 pm: Left the Orca
southbound moving quickly close to the Texada Island shoreline, below
Myrtle Rocks area.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 21:
These Orca are
Transient Bigg's T123's, T49A's, and T002C's for sure. I just looked
them up in my ID book.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 20:
10:14 am: One lone male
Orca in Hoskyn Channel near Sheer Point, easting.
10:50 am: Leaving
scene. Orca now at Surge Narrows, westing into Okisollo Channel.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 19:
The Transient Bigg's
T010's were sighted eastbound in Clio Channel yesterday. That's in
Johnstone Strait between Turnour and West Cracroft Islands.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 17:
8:00 pm: Spotted two
Orca moving south between Nelson Island (off Fearney Point), and
Texada Island.
Sylvia Erwin.
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales
May 23, 2015 – 5
photos
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 16:
8:00 pm: We saw a pod
of three Orca (one large and two smaller ones) pass in front of Hare
Point and Josephine Island heading south east into Okeover Arm. They
passed by again heading north west leaving the Arm around 10:00 pm.
Ryan Dercho,
Vancouver.
NORTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
May 19:
NRKW A46 “Kaikash”
was spotted by himself yesterday,up by Squally Channel. Squally
Channel runs beside Gil Island which is located near the entrance to
Douglas Channel.
Nick and Janeen
Templeman,Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
SOUTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
May 23:
6:46 pm: Southern
Resident Killer Whales J pod are at Salmon Bank.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
UNIDENTIFIED
KILLER WHALES
presumably
most Transient Bigg's
May 24:
3:15 pm: Two or three
Orca came through Dodd's Narrows going south into Stuart Channel.
They followed along Mudge Island going south and disappeared
somewhere along the east side of Link Island.
Janette Dyck.
May 20:
12:40 pm: I
photographed five Orca just off the Duke Point Ferry Terminal in
Nanaimo. I'll review photos for ID.
Peter Hamilton,
Lifeforce.
May 19:
1:16
pm: I don't have pics or numbers...but the Orca were in the Port
Alice Inlet again yesterday, early afternoon. They were quite active
at one time and then disappeared. My husband was watching them. I
went out to try to get pics – saw a small one splashing around, saw
the tail end of it – literally! They then disappeared, leaving the
Inlet. I'm bummed I missed the photo op.
My
husband thinks there were three of them. They may have been
Transients Bigg's, as there were seal hiding close to shore.
Emma Jayne, Port
Alice.
May 19:
6:00
pm: I was working last night (May 18th)
on BC Ferries and we saw an Orca pod at Georgina Light at the north
end of Active Pass. They were heading out into the Strait at the
time. There were approximately 6 – 12 individuals. It was hard to
tell as I had the con of the ferry at the time and there was a huge
flood tide.
Aaron Sigurgeirson.
Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales
May 23, 2015 – 6
photos
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
HUMPBACK
WHALES
May 26:
1:30 pm: Humpback in
Discovery Passage off from the fishing pier in Campbell River, saw
the blows from shore.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 25:
9:27 am: Two Humpback
Whales off Cape Mudge on the Willow Point side of Discovery Passage,
southbound.
10:23 am: Leaving two
Humpbacks now doing ten minute dives half way between a line drawn
between Mitlenatch Island and Oyster Bay, southbound at 5 knots.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 24:
9:10 am: Humpback Whale
in front of April Point, Campbell River. Jerry is on his way. Ed
also.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 24:
10:18 am: Leaving
Humpback whale near Duncan Bay, just north of Campbell River, mid
channel. Jos is on scene.
Jerry, Eagle Eye
Adventures.
May 24:
11:10 am: Left Humpback
whale heading south at Orange Point near Campbell River in 30 feet of
water.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 24:
11:57 am: Left Humpback
whale southbound at April Point near Campbell River.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 24:
4:00 pm: Humpback whale
under the power lines in Seymour Narrows. There are also Pacific
White Sided Dolphins here as well.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 24:
5:38 pm: Humpback whale
in Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, southbound now.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Humpback Whale 'KC'
May, 2015
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 23:
11:10 am: There was a
report of a Humpback at Orange Point, just north of Campbell River,
one hour ago.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 22:
10:00 am: Humpback
whale south bound on the Quadra Island side of Discovery channel.
Near Cape Mudge.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 22:
10:44 am: From the tail
shot this Humpback whale looks like “Houdini.” (unfortunately
we did not receive the photo - SM)
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 22:
3:55 pm: Sharkey
reports that the Humpback whale is now at Steep Island, which is just
north of Gowlland Island on the west side of Quadra, pointed
southbound, I believe.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 22:
4:39 pm: Humpback whale
by Quathiaski Cove on Quadra Island, southbound.
5:11 pm: Left the
Humpback at the north end of We Wai Kai Village on Quadra Island,
still southbound.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 20:
8:24 am: Two Humpback
whales at the Broken Islands, across from Port Harvey in Chancellor
Channel.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
May 17:
12:00
pm:I was fishing at Thrasher Rock (between Gabriola and Valdes
Island) on Sunday the 17th
around midday and saw, in the distance, a Humpback breach and splash
with it's pectoral fin. This was about noon. There were a lot of
sports fishing boats closer to the show so it has probably been
reported.
Mark Lawton,
Burnaby.
GREY
WHALES
May 22:
4:00 pm: Grey Whale in
Bamfield Inlet.
Josh McInnes,
Victoria.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Pacific White Sided
Dolphins
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
May 24:
9:29 am: Pacific White
Sided Dolphins at April Point, near Campbell River.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 24:
11:17 am: Report of
Pacific White Sided Dolphins near red can buoy at Cape Mudge on
Quadra Island.
Fabien Minfray,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 24:
4:00 pm: Pacific White
Sided Dolphins under the power lines in Seymour Narrows. There is a
Humpback whale here as well.
Aaron
Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 21:
5:32 pm: 25-30 Pacific
White Sided Dolphins just west of the red can buoy off Cape Mudge on
Quadra island, southbound.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 19:
1:22 pm: Group of
Pacific White Sided Dolphins, about ten of them, by Maude Island near
the fish farm. Slowly foraging.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 19:
2:20 pm: A dozen
Pacific White Sided Dolphins mid channel westing between Separation
Head and Kanish Bay on Quadra Island.
John Lewis,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
May 19:
5:00 pm: Leaving
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of Duncan Bay, just north of
Campbell River.
Jerry. Eagle Eye
Adventures.
May 19:
5:20 pm: A dozen
Pacific White Sided Dolphins mid channel in Discovery Passage, seen
from Tyee Spit in Campbell River, traveling south. Also seeing 2-3
Dall's Porpoise in the same location and traveling in the same
direction.
Tara Bladon,
Campbell River.
DALL'S
PORPOISE
May 26:
3:57 pm: About ten
Dall's Porpoise at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Jos Krijnen, Eagle
Eye Adventures.
May 22:
1:55 pm: Eight Dall's
Porpoise at Lawrence Point in Bute Inlet.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 19:
2:25 pm: Two Dall's
Porpoise off the Walcan building in Campbell River.
Leif Nordman,
Campbell River Whale Watching.
May 19:
3:41 pm: A few Dall's
Porpoise at the mouth of Bute Inlet.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 19:
5:20 pm: 2-3 Dall's
Porpoise mid channel in Discovery Passage, traveling south, seen from
the Tyee Spit in Campbell River. Also there are a dozen Pacific White
Sided Dolphins in the same area that are heading in the same
direction.
Tara Bladon,
Campbell River.
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
May 25:
1:00 pm: Harbour
Porpoise in Masset Inlet, Haida Gwaii, close to Port Clements, just
slowly foraging inbound towards the head of the inlet.
Jamie Dennis, Haida
Gwaii.
May 25:
2:22 pm: Ten Harbour
Porpoise at Sentry Shoal, which is approximately mid strait in
Discovery Passage between Oyster Bay and Hernando Island.
Leigh Nelson,
Adventure Quest Tours.
May 24:
5:38 pm:One Harbour
Porpoise in Nodales Channel, which separates Sonora Island and East
Thurlow Island.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
May 19:
1:15 pm: 6 Harbour
Porpoise in the tide rip off Willow Point reef, south of Campbell
River.
Nick Templeman,
Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions.
LINKS
Hana, Vancouver
Aquarium's Pacific White Sided Dolphin has died, despite all efforts
to save her:
In much happier news,
the Southern Resident Killer Whale “J pod” babies, J50 and J51,
have been sighted and appear to be thriving.
2015
Summer Fundraising Raffle:
Get
your tickets in time for our EARLY
BIRD DRAW!
- June 21, 2015
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
For
our DONATE
page click here