Boat noise




We're only hearing boat noise just now, but some of the orcas are heading back south through Blackney Pass (we're hearing A4 calls on the Parson Island hydrophone) and at least the I15s are still in Blackfish Sound.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 23:41:47 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A4s,A5s,A36s (A12) and the I15s made it through,sort of. Some are still sitting on the cusp between Blackfish and Blackney. We are waiting for this tug to go through and see if the fact that the tide turned will encourage these whales to head back to Johnstone Strait or are they committed to places further west?

Helena

11 Aug 2011 22:56:37 PDT







Orcas near mics.



The parade is coming our way. Led by the A4s, the I15s are following, then the A5s,A36s/12 and then another A4 group. The A30s never came our way from the other direction so maybe these whales are headed to Blackfish to follow them.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 21:38:56 PDT







Distant calls audible.



A new development: Angela reports that the A30s made it all the way through Weynton Pass to Blackfish Sound where they turned east and are now headed toward Blackney pass.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 20:37:30 PDT







No calls but orcas nearby



Just got an update from Marie at boat Bay - all the groups are moving west mid strait to the Cracroft Island side. All were going quickly and now some have slowed down and are milling, others still heading west fast. We had a report from the Mackays that there were two groups this afternoon off Scarlett Point (?more company).

Helena

11 Aug 2011 20:14:49 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A30s are reported heading through Weynton Pass after crossing over from Beaver Cove. The other groups are still off the eastern end of the Reserve as far as we can tell. Tide is ebbing however.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 20:07:47 PDT







Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.



A slight adjustment. As the majority of the whales are involved at the east end of the Reserve, the A30s have actually come out from Beaver Cove (west of Telegraph Cove) and are on the move. Osmia, sorry about the confusion re the A34s. They had been mentioned as part of the incoming crowd but we never heard them and they were never mentioned again so we don't think they are there.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 19:09:30 PDT







Distant calls audible.



Time for an afternoon update. The A30s left off the other groups and stayed for a while off CP and the entrance to Blackney Pass where they did some serious fishing while the others carried on to the Reserve. The A11s and the A23s who had been east of CP had earlier moved westward as the A30s,A24s and I15s (newly arrived) moved from the Weynton Passage area. As the A30s stalled off CP as mentioned, the I15s and A24s continued east along Vancouver Island. The A11s who were waiting mid strait off of the Cliff angled toward the Reserve. The A30s then headed off to the west and by the sound of it they are come east once again while the other groups move through the Reserve trying out the various beaches. The I15s have reached the Main Beach just now. Hope that is not too, too confusing. The upshot is that we have a lot more whales (56) in Johnstone Strait spread out from the very eastern end to west of CP.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 17:55:41 PDT







Distant calls audible.



I should mention the A8s with A61 are reported off the entrance to Nodales Channel.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 12:31:36 PDT







Distant calls audible.



What a lot of coordination it takes to be an orca community! Today, the whales have basically parked themselves in the entranceways of Blackney Pass and Weynton Pass seemingly awaiting the arrival of new groups. A couple of the groups moved on for sure (the A23s have exited the Reserve and the A11s are resting off of the Cliff) but the A30s guarded Weynton Pass and the A36s/A12 Blackney Pass. Now there is word that the I15s and possibly more (?the A34s) are on their way in via Weynton Pass.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 12:29:16 PDT







Orcas near mics.



Time to do a bit of a catch-up. All the groups went back to the west this morning. Currently, we believe the A30s and possibly the A24s are still west of CP closer to the "top" (west) end of Hanson Island & the entrance to Weynton Passage. They may have shifted east from there by now. The A11s (all and including Springer) passed CP both directions and are now east of CP again mid strait. The A23s are in Robson Bight. No word on the A8s but the exciting news of the day is that there is a large group of incoming orcas in Queen Charlotte Strait. They were off Black Bluff around 9am. The tide is in flood so we are hopeful we will see or hear them at some point soon. As i write, it sounds like the A23s are echo locating & moving closer to Critical Point.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 11:17:19 PDT







Superb sounds!!



The A30s & others are back in Robson Bight. Lovely calls, no boat noise.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 06:22:03 PDT







Orcas near mics.



There are A5 calls in the mix now as well closer to Robson Bight.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 04:51:14 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A30s and the A4s who doubled backed through Blackney Pass from Blackfish Sound in Johnstone Strait again.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 04:17:38 PDT







Orcas near mics.



There are blows in Blackney Pass with the A30s ,A4s (?and others) moving back to Johnstone Strait.

Helena

11 Aug 2011 03:23:27 PDT