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A well-known grey whale is back feeding in British Columbia for the second time this year, with whale watchers saying its winter apperance marks a change in its normal migration pattern. <\/p>\n
On Nov. 25, Ian Bolden heard there was a sighting of a grey whale \u2014 so he headed out in the rain towards Selma Park in Sechelt, located on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast around 50 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.<\/p>\n
The Sunshine Coast resident spends a lot of time paddling on the water and has had a number of encounters with wildlife.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking out further, and then it\u2019s right under my nose,\u201d Bolden said of his experience on Nov. 25. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t realize how close it would actually be.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Photographer Ian Bolden said it’s a thrill to see the grey whale near his home in Sechelt. (Ian Bolden)<\/p>\n
He said the grey whale, known as Little Patch, was roughly 15 metres offshore. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s always a thrill to see them \u2026 this one just randomly showed up at an odd time of year,\u201d Bolden said. <\/p>\n
Bolden managed to take a few photographs of Little Patch \u2014 who is known to swim close to the shore to be able to feed on shrimp. <\/p>\n
Erin Gless, the executive director for the Pacific Whale Watch Association, says this grey whale is the most famous one in the Salish Sea and has been feeding in the area since 1991. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a little white patch on the backside of his body, as you’re going towards the tail,\u201d Gless said.<\/p>\n
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The grey whale’s nickname comes from the distinct small white patch on the backside of it’s body. (Ian Bolden)<\/p>\n
Little Patch\u2019s recent behaviour of returning to the Salish Sea to feed in the winter is not typical for grey whales, Gless said, and is unusual compared to normal grey whale migration patterns. <\/p>\n
Little Patch is believed to be one of the very first grey whales to visit Canadian waters for feeding. <\/p>\n
What’s unusual about his behaviour this year in particular, Gless explains, is that he usually goes to Washington state’s Puget Sound to feed in the spring. <\/p>\n
Back in April and May, he spent several weeks off of West Vancouver feeding close to the shore and drew crowds of people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that he kind of showed up there first is, is really interesting,\u201d Gless said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe really liked something about that area because he came back in November, which is a bit [of] unusual timing.\u201d<\/p>\n
WATCH | Whale detection devices installed on B.C. properties to safeguard marine mammals:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764310029_396_default.jpg\")
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Whale detection devices installed on B.C. properties to safeguard marine mammals<\/p>\n
Two separate homeowners in B.C. are doing their part to help safeguard marine mammals. As Alanna Kelly reports, they are hosting different pieces of technology that both detect animals without disturbing them. Winters spent in Mexico<\/p>\n
Typically, grey whales will travel up to the Arctic to feed and start migrating down towards Mexico, where they\u2019ll spend the winter in warmer waters. <\/p>\n
In recent years, grey whales are dying, and the population has been declining. Researchers believe this is due to a shortage of food up in the Arctic. <\/p>\n
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Little Patch is also known as “Sounder” grey whale CRCID-53. (Ian Bolden)<\/p>\n