Geordie and I got to scratch one off our bucket list the week of July 10th. We went on our annual pilgrimage to Telegraph Cove to see friends, beautiful scenery and gorgeous wildlife. Out with Stubbs Island Whale Watching there came a report of a super pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins, so we set out to find them. To count them try to estimate how many you see out of the water at once and them multiply it by 3-5. There were over 200 in this super pod which is rare for this time of year as it is kind of early. The photos do not do them justice. Video is forthcoming.
They were very active. They went all around the boat. Mating, half breaching, tail slapping, jumping and as the fellow below is doing: popcorning. Just like popcorn popping he shot straight into the air near vertical to land on his right side. He did this repeatedly in about the same spot.
In addition to the above activities they were also bow riding. Pacific white sided dolphins often engage in play with boats and boat wakes. The wake of the boat gives them surf to play in. The wake at the side and the push wave at the front gives them a speed boost which must be extra exhilarating. Putting the hydrophone down got us some extra great vocalizations as well.
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