No orcas present.
Two humpbacks were just in front of the Lab. They were fairly close and once again surrounded by dozens of sea lions. It took a while but they finally showed some of their flukes and we managed to snap off a picture or two. Amazing air sounds and even a few spy hops. Nice trick, nice treat.
Helena
31 Oct 2008 15:15:04 PST
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Humpbacks calling
Superb sounds!!
We are definitely hearing humpback calls again! Quite exciting.
Helena
29 Oct 2008 18:36:42 PST
We are definitely hearing humpback calls again! Quite exciting.
Helena
29 Oct 2008 18:36:42 PST
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Humpback whales and Transients
No orcas present.
Well, it has been quite the day! Around 12:30pm we became aware of humpback calls in Blackfish Sound. Soon after a humpback came into Blackney surrounded by sea lions. The humpback was making lots of in-the-air noises. Another humpback came into view, further over, on the cusp of Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. This humpback was also making lots of loud exhalations. Over the next few hours these whales went back and forth. The calls dropped off after a while.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 16:12:39 PST
No orcas present.
We got a report from the MacKays that 6 orcas, most likely transients, were in Port McNeill harbour area around 6:30pm. These whales headed west. The humpbacks are still in Blacknney Pass.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 21:05:13 PST
Well, it has been quite the day! Around 12:30pm we became aware of humpback calls in Blackfish Sound. Soon after a humpback came into Blackney surrounded by sea lions. The humpback was making lots of in-the-air noises. Another humpback came into view, further over, on the cusp of Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. This humpback was also making lots of loud exhalations. Over the next few hours these whales went back and forth. The calls dropped off after a while.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 16:12:39 PST
No orcas present.
We got a report from the MacKays that 6 orcas, most likely transients, were in Port McNeill harbour area around 6:30pm. These whales headed west. The humpbacks are still in Blacknney Pass.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 21:05:13 PST
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A30s left to the north
No orcas present.
Yesterday and today (so far) have been very quiet. The last we heard from the A30s was when they faded off in the distance from Blackfish Sound two days ago.
Helena
23 Oct 2008 16:20:38 PDT
Yesterday and today (so far) have been very quiet. The last we heard from the A30s was when they faded off in the distance from Blackfish Sound two days ago.
Helena
23 Oct 2008 16:20:38 PDT
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Distant A30 calls audible
We have been listening to the A30s in johnstone Strait since just before 11am.
Helena
21 Oct 2008 13:25:38 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
21 Oct 2008 15:56:45 PDT
Helena
21 Oct 2008 13:25:38 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
21 Oct 2008 15:56:45 PDT
Monday, October 20, 2008
A30s moving around in the area
Distant calls audible.
It has been aa nice day so far, after the storm, wind and rain (well almost after the rain)... the A30s were in Johnstone Strait this morning and left via Blackney Pass. They are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
20 Oct 2008 14:46:29 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We had just restarted recording of the A30s in Blackfish Sound when we noticed T14 mid channel, heading north, through Blackney Pass!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 16:42:00 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are back in Johnstone Strait once again!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 19:21:20 PDT
It has been aa nice day so far, after the storm, wind and rain (well almost after the rain)... the A30s were in Johnstone Strait this morning and left via Blackney Pass. They are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
20 Oct 2008 14:46:29 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We had just restarted recording of the A30s in Blackfish Sound when we noticed T14 mid channel, heading north, through Blackney Pass!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 16:42:00 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are back in Johnstone Strait once again!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 19:21:20 PDT
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A30s back on track
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are once again off the western end of Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 08:42:42 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are now back in Johnstone Strait. They most likely went through Weynton Pass to get there.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 10:37:11 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We are now hearing distant A1 calls in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 13:57:29 PDT
The A30s are once again off the western end of Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 08:42:42 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s are now back in Johnstone Strait. They most likely went through Weynton Pass to get there.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 10:37:11 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We are now hearing distant A1 calls in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 13:57:29 PDT
Friday, October 17, 2008
A30s vocal but boatnoise intrudes
No calls but orcas nearby
The A30s are heading north through Blackney Pas. There is loud boat noise in Blackfish Sound. Once that clears we may hear the A30s again for they have been vocal continuously since 1am! (we lost our connection again but it is back now).
Helena
17 Oct 2008 18:33:04 PDT
The A30s are heading north through Blackney Pas. There is loud boat noise in Blackfish Sound. Once that clears we may hear the A30s again for they have been vocal continuously since 1am! (we lost our connection again but it is back now).
Helena
17 Oct 2008 18:33:04 PDT
Thursday, October 16, 2008
G17 and A30 update
Distant calls audible.
We just recently heard the Gs once again, but we were not able to locate the calls. On the 14th, we know, in the afternoon, that the A30s and G17s circled back to Johnstone Strait by 3pm. They then went east to the entrance of Blackney Pass and through to Blackfish Sound by 5:45pm. They were last heard around 6:30pm. Yesterday, the two groups were seen heading into Queen Charlotte Strait around 1:30pm by Jim Borrowman. So we will see how they fare today. It is going to be a very windy day.
Helena
16 Oct 2008 09:18:21 PDT
We just recently heard the Gs once again, but we were not able to locate the calls. On the 14th, we know, in the afternoon, that the A30s and G17s circled back to Johnstone Strait by 3pm. They then went east to the entrance of Blackney Pass and through to Blackfish Sound by 5:45pm. They were last heard around 6:30pm. Yesterday, the two groups were seen heading into Queen Charlotte Strait around 1:30pm by Jim Borrowman. So we will see how they fare today. It is going to be a very windy day.
Helena
16 Oct 2008 09:18:21 PDT
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A30s and G17s are back in JS
Orcas near mics.
Lovely morning, lovely calls! The whales are back in Johnstone Strait headed toward the Ecological Reserve.
Helena
14 Oct 2008 08:28:21 PDT
Lovely morning, lovely calls! The whales are back in Johnstone Strait headed toward the Ecological Reserve.
Helena
14 Oct 2008 08:28:21 PDT
Monday, October 13, 2008
A30s and G17s traveling around
Distant calls audible.
We've been listening to distant calls on the Flower Island hydrophone since a little before 8am. The calls (A & G clan) are getting louder, so there's a good chance the whales will head into Blackney Pass soon. Probably, they are the A30s & G17s, who came back from a couple of days in eastern Johnstone Strait last evening.
Helena
13 Oct 2008 08:49:31 PDT
While our connection was down today: The A30s and the G17s after a long sojourn off the western end of Blackfish Sound, travelled through Weynton Pass to Johnstone Strait. They then travelled east to the entrance of Blackney Pass. As the tide turned to ebb, the groups moved back to Weynton Pass and then through to Blackfish Sound again, just where the day started!
Helena
13 Oct 2008 18:01:06 PDT
We've been listening to distant calls on the Flower Island hydrophone since a little before 8am. The calls (A & G clan) are getting louder, so there's a good chance the whales will head into Blackney Pass soon. Probably, they are the A30s & G17s, who came back from a couple of days in eastern Johnstone Strait last evening.
Helena
13 Oct 2008 08:49:31 PDT
While our connection was down today: The A30s and the G17s after a long sojourn off the western end of Blackfish Sound, travelled through Weynton Pass to Johnstone Strait. They then travelled east to the entrance of Blackney Pass. As the tide turned to ebb, the groups moved back to Weynton Pass and then through to Blackfish Sound again, just where the day started!
Helena
13 Oct 2008 18:01:06 PDT
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Transients, G17s and A30s
No orcas present.
A bit late, but yesterday (Oct.11), just before noon, a group of transients (the T55s) turned up in Blackney Pass once again. They cruised a group of sea lions and probably made a kill. Jared Towers later identified the group in Johnstone Strait. The whales were vocal for quite a while. None of the calls were very loud on our system. Quiet day here, all the best to everyone this Canadian Thanksgiving.
Helena & Paul
12 Oct 2008 11:42:24 PDT
Superb sounds!!
We ae hearing close G17s and distant As in Johnstone Strait. There are dolphins as well. The groups must be coming back from the lower Johnstone Strait.
Helena
12 Oct 2008 18:38:02 PDT
Orcas near mics.
Calls are getting further away. The groups probably carried on west in Johnstone Strait and left via Weynton Passage and are now crossing the top (western) end of Blackfish Sound. Nice calls!
Helena
12 Oct 2008 21:47:46 PDT
A bit late, but yesterday (Oct.11), just before noon, a group of transients (the T55s) turned up in Blackney Pass once again. They cruised a group of sea lions and probably made a kill. Jared Towers later identified the group in Johnstone Strait. The whales were vocal for quite a while. None of the calls were very loud on our system. Quiet day here, all the best to everyone this Canadian Thanksgiving.
Helena & Paul
12 Oct 2008 11:42:24 PDT
Superb sounds!!
We ae hearing close G17s and distant As in Johnstone Strait. There are dolphins as well. The groups must be coming back from the lower Johnstone Strait.
Helena
12 Oct 2008 18:38:02 PDT
Orcas near mics.
Calls are getting further away. The groups probably carried on west in Johnstone Strait and left via Weynton Passage and are now crossing the top (western) end of Blackfish Sound. Nice calls!
Helena
12 Oct 2008 21:47:46 PDT
Friday, October 10, 2008
A30s and G17s in lower Johnstone Strait
No orcas present.
Early this morning just before 1am we heard A1 calls AND G17 calls in Johnstone Strait. Reports today mentioned a large group in the lower Strait. Exciting to think the patient A30s have company.
Helena
10 Oct 2008 18:59:41 PDT
Early this morning just before 1am we heard A1 calls AND G17 calls in Johnstone Strait. Reports today mentioned a large group in the lower Strait. Exciting to think the patient A30s have company.
Helena
10 Oct 2008 18:59:41 PDT
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
A30s left the area through Blackney Pass
Orcas near mics.
The A30s once again have travelled north through Blackney Pass and are not in Blackfish Sound. A small humpback was just off our Local Left station as the A30s came into Blackney from Johnstone Strait. Sea lions were all over it and there were some interesting sounds made at the same time.
Helena
08 Oct 2008 12:47:24 PDT
The A30s once again have travelled north through Blackney Pass and are not in Blackfish Sound. A small humpback was just off our Local Left station as the A30s came into Blackney from Johnstone Strait. Sea lions were all over it and there were some interesting sounds made at the same time.
Helena
08 Oct 2008 12:47:24 PDT
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
A30s and Transients still in the area
No calls but orcas nearby
Whales everywhere, both transients and residents! The A30s were in Johnstone Strait this morning and may have just come through Blackney Pass headed to Blackfish Sound. Meanwhile, there were also transients in Weynton Pass. Last night, we heard distant A1 calls around 2:15am.
Helena
07 Oct 2008 16:06:16 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We are hearing calls once again in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
07 Oct 2008 19:17:13 PDT
Whales everywhere, both transients and residents! The A30s were in Johnstone Strait this morning and may have just come through Blackney Pass headed to Blackfish Sound. Meanwhile, there were also transients in Weynton Pass. Last night, we heard distant A1 calls around 2:15am.
Helena
07 Oct 2008 16:06:16 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We are hearing calls once again in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
07 Oct 2008 19:17:13 PDT
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Transients and A30s
Distant calls audible.
We're hearing distant calls amidst heavy boat noise on the Crritical Point hydrophone, probably from the A30s, who came back into Johnstone Strait around 9pm. (Our internet connection was down at the time).
Helena
05 Oct 2008 02:48:18 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
Our connection has been unstable today. However, here is a short update of the day's events so far. The A30s disappeared to the east, oast Robson Bight, around 3am. They recently have returned to the Bight (around 10am). Prior to the A30s' return, a small group of transients were in Blackney Pass in the middle of about 500 dolphins, sealions and two humpbacks. In a second, the dolphins and sealion porpoised awy to the west and the humpbacks disappeared. The transients lingered a while longer before sauntering off to the west also.
Helena
05 Oct 2008 11:38:41 PDT
No orcas present.
We heard from the A30s once again earlier this evening. They became quiet after reaching the area off the entrance of Blackney Pass. Meanwhile, the transients of this morning turned out to be the T55s (thanks to Graeme Ellis for the identification and later updates) who apparently made an extensive tour of the whole area, ending up in Blackfish Sound at the same time the A30s were off Blackney Pass in Johnstone Strait. They may have turned back to the west. Also, the Island Roamer found another transient group in Baronet Channel headed toward Knight Inlet. A busy and at times very wet day!
Helena
05 Oct 2008 22:33:48 PDT
We're hearing distant calls amidst heavy boat noise on the Crritical Point hydrophone, probably from the A30s, who came back into Johnstone Strait around 9pm. (Our internet connection was down at the time).
Helena
05 Oct 2008 02:48:18 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
Our connection has been unstable today. However, here is a short update of the day's events so far. The A30s disappeared to the east, oast Robson Bight, around 3am. They recently have returned to the Bight (around 10am). Prior to the A30s' return, a small group of transients were in Blackney Pass in the middle of about 500 dolphins, sealions and two humpbacks. In a second, the dolphins and sealion porpoised awy to the west and the humpbacks disappeared. The transients lingered a while longer before sauntering off to the west also.
Helena
05 Oct 2008 11:38:41 PDT
No orcas present.
We heard from the A30s once again earlier this evening. They became quiet after reaching the area off the entrance of Blackney Pass. Meanwhile, the transients of this morning turned out to be the T55s (thanks to Graeme Ellis for the identification and later updates) who apparently made an extensive tour of the whole area, ending up in Blackfish Sound at the same time the A30s were off Blackney Pass in Johnstone Strait. They may have turned back to the west. Also, the Island Roamer found another transient group in Baronet Channel headed toward Knight Inlet. A busy and at times very wet day!
Helena
05 Oct 2008 22:33:48 PDT
Friday, October 03, 2008
A30s in Queen Charlotte Strait, A36s lost
No orcas present.
The A30s spent the day in Queen Charlotte Strait after their morning session in Blackfish Sound. They apparently were very spread out the entire time, mostly north west of Lizard Point. After 4pm they were last seen heading west from Bere Point. Thanks to Stubbs Island for the update. No sign of the A36s who we last heard around 10pm in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
03 Oct 2008 17:52:10 PDT
The A30s spent the day in Queen Charlotte Strait after their morning session in Blackfish Sound. They apparently were very spread out the entire time, mostly north west of Lizard Point. After 4pm they were last seen heading west from Bere Point. Thanks to Stubbs Island for the update. No sign of the A36s who we last heard around 10pm in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
03 Oct 2008 17:52:10 PDT
Thursday, October 02, 2008
A30s heading towards the Bight, A36s appear in Blackfish Sound
Distant calls audible.
We're hearing occasional calls on the Critical Point hydrophone, along with persistent boat noise. Sounds like the A30s have come back into Johnstone Strait, probably via Weynton Pass.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 01:12:01 PDT
No orcas present.
We've heard no calls since early this morning, and don't know what happened to the A30s, who were in Johnstone Strait at the time (around 1:30am).
helena
02 Oct 2008 13:42:44 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
Just after we posted our last note, we heard (from the Naiad Explorer) that the A30s are foraging in the entrance of Blackney Pass, off CP. They are silent, so far as we know. Some dolphins (about 6) are there too.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 14:04:18 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
The A30s are slowly making their way to the east in Johnstone Strait & are mid-strait off Kaikash pointing towards the western boundary of the Reserve. They are silent. Meanwhile, the A36 brothers have just been sighted at the "top" of Blackfish Sound & are slowly heading east towards Blackney Pass & Johnstone Strait.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 17:30:52 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We most likely are hearing the A36s in Blackfish Sound while the A30s continue in Johnstone Strait. Dolphins are vocal as well in the Strait.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 19:25:50 PDT
Orcas near mics.
The A36s are still in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 21:58:52 PDT
We're hearing occasional calls on the Critical Point hydrophone, along with persistent boat noise. Sounds like the A30s have come back into Johnstone Strait, probably via Weynton Pass.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 01:12:01 PDT
No orcas present.
We've heard no calls since early this morning, and don't know what happened to the A30s, who were in Johnstone Strait at the time (around 1:30am).
helena
02 Oct 2008 13:42:44 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
Just after we posted our last note, we heard (from the Naiad Explorer) that the A30s are foraging in the entrance of Blackney Pass, off CP. They are silent, so far as we know. Some dolphins (about 6) are there too.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 14:04:18 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
The A30s are slowly making their way to the east in Johnstone Strait & are mid-strait off Kaikash pointing towards the western boundary of the Reserve. They are silent. Meanwhile, the A36 brothers have just been sighted at the "top" of Blackfish Sound & are slowly heading east towards Blackney Pass & Johnstone Strait.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 17:30:52 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We most likely are hearing the A36s in Blackfish Sound while the A30s continue in Johnstone Strait. Dolphins are vocal as well in the Strait.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 19:25:50 PDT
Orcas near mics.
The A36s are still in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
02 Oct 2008 21:58:52 PDT
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
A30s travel north through Blackney Pass
Superb sounds!!
We're listening to close calls & echolocation on the Critical Point hydrophone. After intense boat noise for the past while, there is almost none now, so the A30 calls are clear!
Helena
01 Oct 2008 08:14:34 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s just went north through Blackney Pass. They were altogether mid channel as they went into Blackfish Sound.
Helena
01 Oct 2008 12:09:22 PDT
We're listening to close calls & echolocation on the Critical Point hydrophone. After intense boat noise for the past while, there is almost none now, so the A30 calls are clear!
Helena
01 Oct 2008 08:14:34 PDT
Distant calls audible.
The A30s just went north through Blackney Pass. They were altogether mid channel as they went into Blackfish Sound.
Helena
01 Oct 2008 12:09:22 PDT
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