Orcas near mics.




So ..... We began to finally hear calls and echo location at the south end of Blackney Pass after straining to hear blows. CP was straining too. The calls suddenly became louder and shifted quickly to CP in Johnstone Strait as the whales moved into Johnstone Strait. The A30s have been pretty vocal and their calls are now getting louder as they get nearer to Robson Bight.

Helena

27 Aug 2011 22:43:47 PDT







No calls but orcas nearby



Oh NO! Another mystery! We just had whales enter Blackney Pass seemingly going south but spread out. Then in the gloom the blows shifted to the far side opposite the Lab and vanished! So where are they?

Helena

27 Aug 2011 21:30:03 PDT







No orcas present.



At its most hectic - the whales disappear aided by the sun glare and other distractions. CP saw some of the A30s off the entrance to Blackney looking like they were thinking about using the Pass. Others looked like they were still heading west. But then they all vanished in a moment. No acoustic clues except a distant, faint call on Flower Island at 7:58pm (8 minutes after CP last saw whales). So where are they?

Helena

27 Aug 2011 21:00:10 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A30s have turned west, they are opposite CP now.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 19:27:22 PDT







Orcas near mics.



The A30s and some of the G17s are in the Bight.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 18:00:44 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A36s and A12, and the A34s are headed north through Blackney Pass.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 17:43:31 PDT







No calls but orcas nearby



Around 4pm the A30s and some of the G17s exploded into Johnstone Strait from Blackney Pass. They were all spread out and foraging with dolphins surrounding them. After a brief stop near CP they headed across to the Vancouver Island side and continued east, spread out approximately 400m offshore. In the meantime the A34s were still in a tight resting group heading east. Once they hit Kaikash they veered over and followed A12 and the A36s north up Blackney Pass. The others are now just entering Robson Bight.

Leah and Nic at CP

27 Aug 2011 17:39:18 PDT







Superb sounds!!



The A30s brought new group! we are hearing A30s and some of the Gs as they are entering Johnstone Strait. A12 and A36s are still off CP.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 15:50:58 PDT







Orcas near mics.



While A12, A36s and A34s are enjoying Johnstone Strait, A30s are coming back to our area!

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 14:55:47 PDT







A12 and the A36s turned back to the east about a half hour ago and are foraging in the tide rip of Blackney Pass with Freckles the humpback. THe A34s are foraging off of Blinkhorn at the moment too!

Leah and Nic at CP

27 Aug 2011 14:28:00 PDT







Distant calls audible.



The A34s are Vancouver Island side, coming up to Kaikash. A12 and A36s are mid strait to Cracroft side opposite CP.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 12:38:13 PDT







Orcas near mics.



A12 and her boys (the A36 brothers) are off CP at the moment. The A34s are on the Vancouver Island side.

Helena

27 Aug 2011 12:32:54 PDT







Distant calls audible.



Sounds like the A34s are back from the east too. We are hearing them on Rubbing Beach hydrophone.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 10:32:52 PDT







No calls but orcas nearby



We got a report of the whales coming back from east. The A36s and A12 are about opposite Boat bay, heading west. We are not sure where the A34s are. Still somewhere east?

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 10:19:44 PDT







No orcas present.



Good morning! We think the whales continued to the east after rubbing.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 07:58:43 PDT







Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.



The whales are off Rubbing Beach now.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 02:18:43 PDT







Superb sounds!!



The A34s are in the bight.

Tomoko

27 Aug 2011 01:17:46 PDT