Monday , June 6, 2010
Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina
We are back up and running and I have finally found some time to get to the computer. What a spring it has been !
While the weather in May and the first part of June has not been that special, the wildlife has! We have been seeing lots of Black Bear as well as Humpbacks over the past 4 or 5 weeks. Today we found a large Humpback "bubble feeding" on the slicks of pink krill that have been flushing back and forth in the large tides we have been experiencing. (pic attached) The Krill season is short in this area and we were very fortunate to get this opportunity today.
A bonus for the evening were the 2 Transient Orca that surfaced about 5 minutes before we were to enter the marina. These 2 female orca were heading north slowly, following the ebb tide at about 7:30 pm. One of them seem to have a fresh nick in the back (middle) of her dorsal fin. We could find her in our ID book and unfortunately didn't get a good picture either.
If you are north of Campbell River this morning, heads up ! They are coming your way.
Cheers
Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

May 14th 2010


Good morning from the Float House at Discovery Harbour Marina

Yesterday flet like summer and the Whales arrived on cue.

Some of the Southern Resident Orca spend the winter on the north coast and each spring we look forward to seeing them on their journey back down the Inside Passage to the Victoria area. Yesterday the K and L pods arrived in Campbell River about 12 noon about 2 weeks earlier than expected and about 1 month earlier than last year.

The picture attached shows the group moving quickly through Seymour Narrows just north of Campbell River. When the Orca passed the southern tip of Quadra Island they began to breech and vocalize as if they could sense their final destination, some 200 km to the south.

The Orca arrival was also a day early for us as we celebrate our Grand Opening this weekend, Saturday May 15th and Sunday the 16th. Bring the family and friends as the adjacent Mall celebrates "Pirate Days". Hot Dogs, refreshments and free Zodiac rides from 11 am to 3 pm.

The summer is closing in quickly. Come and enjoy the beauty of the Islands and coastal shoreline.


Looking forward to a great sunny weekend


Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

February 13, 2010

Good morning from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

A bit of interesting news. On January 23rd J pod (Southern Resident Orca) made an unexpected visit to Johnstone Strait. A recording of their calls was made and we asked John Ford from the Naniamo Research Station to confirm who it was.

Susan Berta of Orca Network Sightings that they had the "J"s in the Victoria area on Jan. 3 & 4th but then not again until J1 showed up alone at the end of Jan. For a few days they were very worried about the rest of the clan but then the rest of J's showed up Jan. 29th!

The Southern Resident Orca have used Johnstone Strait area in the past but it was primarily the "K"s and "L"s. This visit from the "J" Clan is quite unique. The "J"s often travel south to the California area that this time of the year!

Photo attached: this is one of theSouthern Resident group heading south through Seymour Narrows near Campbell River in June of 2008. Notice the "open" saddle patch marking at the base of the dorsal fin. This is characteristic of "Southern" Orca and rarely seen in Northern Orca.

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

January 16, 2010

Good morning from Discovery Harbour Marina

Yesterday was a mild and sunny day here on Vancouver Island and the Orca took this opportunity to arrived in Johnstone Strait at about 11:30 in the morning. Two Northern Resident groups spent the day foraging in and around the Robson Bight area. Picture attached shows A42 and A79 which are part of a group of about a dozen Orca called the A5's. Along with them was a larger group called the A31's which has a high percentage of females. (small fins)

We haven't seen the Northerns in Johnstone Strait since before Christmas so their arrival tells us that there is a supply of Winter Spring Salmon available in those waters.

These two groups of Orca each have their own very distinctive calls. If you are interested you can hear them thanks to Helena and Paul at www.orca-live.net.

Happy New Year

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

December 14, 2009

Good afternoon from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

The first real snowfall this afternoon in Campbell River!

Crossing to Quadra Island on the ferry this afternoon we saw a large group of Transient Orca heading south. Not sure of the total number but somewhere between 6 and 8 (possibly more) with 2 young calves in the group. No camera (sorry no picture) or binuculars to figure out who they were but Jared Towers, a researcher from the Port Hardy area, had a similiar group a few days ago.
Lots of playful behavior along the Quadra shore line with a bit of foraging behavior but no signs of a meal. The Orca must be enjoying the "quietness" of the waterways at this time of the year as other than the ferry, there where no boats in sight!

I hope you get to spend some quality time with family over the Christams holidays.

The best of health and happiness in the New year!

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching

December 6th, 2009

Good afternoon from the Float House in Discovery Harbour Marina

Beautiful day here in Campbell River but very cool next to the water!
Transient Orca seen today heading north in Discovery passage about 1:00 pm. What looked like a group of 6 animals with one small calf, grouped up together and heading north very quickly with the tide. Not sure who they were with only one mature male in the group. (no distinctive markings)

Word from Garret in the reasch vessel to the north of us, near the top of Vancouver Island. He had some Resident Orca, A36's (the 3 mature males) and A12, just north of Port Hardy heading south yesterday. What are the chances that we would see them later this week? Very slim but they may come into Johnstone Strait searching for some of those very late Chum Salmon that I hear are still heading towards their spawning rivers. The weather calls for colder temperatures and calm winds. Perfect for those wildlife enthusiasts or maybe just for some of those wonderful prawns I see coming in lately.

How all is well with the Christmas cheer. I can't believe it is getting so close already.

Cheers

Hurricane Jack
Campbell River Whale Watching