Multiple pod calls audible.

First the dolphins,then the I15s then the A30s, & then the I31s, all in short order, off the east end of the Reserve. That at least settles the queston of what happened to the A30s and I31s earlier. They must have gone eastward after their afternoon off the western end o Hanson Island.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 04:04:59 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We've been hearing distant calls on the Critical Point and rubbing beach hydrophone, along with some echolocation. Sounds like the I15s & possibly A30s are still near Robson Bight and the east end of the Ecological Reserve.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 06:39:22 PDT

Orcas hunting fish.

Sounds like at least the I15s are back inside Robson Bight, grabbing an early morning bite!
Helena
08 Sep 2010 07:07:23 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The I31s are closest to Critical Point at the moment. They were preceded by the A30s and the I15s. The whales may be moving westward in the fog.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 08:13:19 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The I15s,A30s and I31s have been moving west past the entrance to Blackney Pass for the last hour.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 09:53:24 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The whales probably turned before 11am with the I31s coming back to the entrance of Blackney Pass first, followed soon after by some of the A30s. The I15s are there a well.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 11:44:18 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The I15s have finally joined the others off the entrance to Blackney Pass. They came down the Hanson Island shore after poking their noses into Weynton Pass and were delayed making the move east. All the whales are grouping up now and perhaps beginning to move east from the entrance way.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 12:38:03 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The I31s and the A30s are still off the entrance to Blackney Pass foraging in the rip. The I15s have not been vocal lately so we are not sure where they are again.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 14:36:00 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Sometime ago, when the tide turned to ebb, the A30s,I15s (they were there all along and became vocal finally) and the I31s moved on to the west. We have not heard from them for a long time but in the meantime, we did hear distant "R" calls in Johstone Strait. We are not sure of the source. The boat noise has become terrible again.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 19:21:10 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The A30s, I15s and I31s sound like they have returned to Robson Bight once more.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 20:10:37 PDT

Superb sounds!!

Great stuff from the Bight!
Helena
08 Sep 2010 20:48:39 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The I15s have surprised us by turning up off the entrance of Blackney Pass while the A30s and the I31s went in closer to the Bight.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 21:14:48 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The I15s sound like they might come into Blackney Pass while the I31s have made it to the rubbing beaches already!
Helena
08 Sep 2010 21:17:34 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The I15s have moved on toward Cracroft Point, choosing to cross the entrance way of Blackney Pass as they move east toward the others.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 21:27:20 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We can add a few more notes about what we think is happening in Johnstone Strait. We listened as one group of I15s crossed the entrance to Blackney Pass and headed east. We think they continued along the Cracroft side with perhaps someone a bit further out in the Strait. Their calls (sometimes still being heard) never really got close to the Vancouver Island side. There was horrible boat noise so we toggled between the Critical Point station and the rubbing beaches where the A30s and the I31s and another group of i15s were fairly close. They finally faded off. They never went in for a rub despite being quite close. A group of dolphins then came in and went, We think everyone is still moving east for the moment.
Helena
08 Sep 2010 23:14:02 PDT