Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

Even more rubbing! The A5s are having a nice long rub.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 00:50:03 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

While the A5s continue at the east end of the Ecological Reserve, the A30s, have moved closer to the Robson Bight aea.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 01:32:44 PDT

Orcas hunting fish.

During the night there was some movement back and forth. The A30s and A5s (A4s and G clan whales were nearby as well) had a rub togetherbetween 12:26am and !2:30am. The A30s turned back toward Robson Bight leaving the A5s rubbing until 1:50am. The A30s arrived at Critical Point at 1:30am. Eventually, the A5s also moved west as did the G clan calls. Over the next while the whales (most likely the A30s) continued west to the entrance of Blackney Pass between 4:30am and 5:30am. North Island Kayak heard a group go by their camp at Little Kaikash at 5am. The group was then seen off Telegraph Cove at 6:15am. (thanks to Mary Borrowman for the report). The group continued toward Beaver Cove and then turned at 6:40am back to the east. We heard A5 calls off the rubbing beaches again at 6:18am and just now fairly close echo location as perhaps they went back to Critical Point. As for the other groups (A12s,A36s, I15s,A4s), we think they are still east of Robson Bight for the time being. Hopefully, the mystery G clan group will have stayed not far from the A30s and we may get new clues sometime today.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 07:45:44 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The plot thickens. The camp at Boat Bay (opposite Robson Bight) saw two males head for the west mid strait and wondered if it might be the A36s.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 08:15:55 PDT

Distant calls audible.

There is just horrible boat noise. this morning. The I15s after milling off of Weynton Island have recently turned back to the east. The A30s,A4s and A5s are west bound (they turned at 9:50am) between the Cliff and Vancouver Island (10:11am). It was probably the A30s off Telegraph Cove at 6:15 and they who turned back east at 6:40am. At that time the A4s and A5s were closer to the Reserve and for a time as the A30s neared they were east bound until 9:50am. So we have groups travelling now towards each other. The I15s from the western end of Hanson Island. The A30s,A4s and A5s from the opposite direction off the Sophia Island. The A34s are reported off Chatham Point and A12 with the A36s are further west off Ripple Point. Both groups are pointed east.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 11:26:16 PDT

Orcas near mics.

Here is a bit of an update. The I15s crossed earlier to the Vancouver Island shore. The Cliff first saw them travelling east from Kaikash Creek (opposite CP) at 11:45am. They are now in the Bight and account for the louder calls we are listening to. The A30s, A5s and presumably the A4s, after being off CP for a while, travelled east to the Baron Reefs (a short distance) and then turned around to go back to CP at 12:55pm. This is where they are at present. The Naiad reports that they are quite relaxed. We can hear their distant calls off the entrance to Blackney Pass. The very loud boat noise from the fishing opening continues. Ouch!
Helena
23 Aug 2010 13:35:06 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A8s apparently continued west up the Hanson Island shore and turned off Turn Point at 2:03pm. The A30s and the rest of the A5s and A24s had turned just a bit earlier at 1:53pm while off CP. The A30s are now passing Izumi on their way to Robson bight. The other groups are angled toward the Bight as well. A60 was travellling with some of the A30s. The I15s carried on going east from the east end boundary which they cleared at 2:15pm. No word on the A12s and A36s far to the east.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 15:08:07 PDT

Orcas hunting fish.

Someone from the A5s arrived ahead of the A30s in the Bight. Nice calls, boat noise reasonable!
Helena
23 Aug 2010 15:51:51 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A5s and the A30s drew near to Robson Point and then turned back to the west at 4:10pm. They passed the Cliff in their respective groups except for A39 who was going between the A5s and the A24s and A38 who was foraging on his own. The A24s have been quite quiet all day. No sign of the I15s.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 16:58:16 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The pacing continues. All day the A30s,A24s,A5s have gone back and forth in the Strait. We think they may have done so recently in favour of the west from the Robson Bight area. They have been difficult to track because of the turns and the heavy boat noise from the fishing opening.
Helena
23 Aug 2010 22:19:11 PDT