No calls but orcas nearby Well this has been an extraordinary day. Some of us had to run into town and so missed many of the movements until the afternoon. When we arrived back the A30s were mid channel (favouring the other side), pointing south in a group just about opposite the Lab. As we unpacked, cleaned a couple of fish, showed visitors around, the A30s were steadily being pushed back by the ebbing tide. This went on for a very long time. Eventually the A54s moved slightly ahead of the A50s but it was not long before the two groups reformed into a single unit again. Then just over an hour to the slack tide when the tide was going to move into flood, the A30s picked up the pace. It was now about 7:40pm. We heard a few calls and were startled to understand that the A5 calls in Johnstone Strait sounded like they were already closer to the Bight. Presumably, while the A30s were treading water in Blackney Pass, the A23s and A25s were heading east in Johnstone Strait toward the Bight (after they had doubled back through Blackney earlier). As the A23s/A25s approached the Bight, the A30s went through the last part of Blackney and into johnstone Strait. We were able to follow them on the cameras and Megan at CP reported at 8:42pm that she could see them heading east and angling toward Vancouver Island. The A23s/A25s were eventually found in the fading light off Robson Bight. By 8:46pm their calls were very close as they passed the eastern point of the Bight. The tide is in both groups favour now so we will have to wait to see what the rest of the evening tells us. OrcaLab 31 Aug 2017 23:14:19 PDT No calls but orcas nearby It's been a funny sort of day. The A30s and A23/25s continued west slowly for the rest of the morning, with the A30s (leading) eventually appearing at the southern entrance to Blackney Pass around noon, foraging. They began passing through in earnest at 12:50pm, and cleared north by 1:32pm. The A23/25s then followed, beginning a similar trip through at around 1:50pm, and clearing Blackney (north) by 2:15pm. Before we could catch a breath, A60 reappeared a few minutes later, with A61 and a handful of small fins in tow, now heading south! There were no calls. They (A23/25s) continued through but were certainly in no hurry, as they were only just clearing (south) on our Sea Lion Rock cam view at 3:50pm. Before that at 3:20pm we suddenly noticed the A30s had joined us, right in front of the lab, mid-channel. They had formed a beautiful resting line which has remained practically stationary until now. As the tide is ebbing, they have maintained their position by pointing south, and only in the last half an hour have begun to be pulled back north in the Pass. The A5s too, meanwhile, seemed to be traveling in leisurely fashion, and at 4:50pm had only just made it round Cracroft Point. Around 5pm they began slowly crossing over to Kaikash, and are still slowly easting. You can watch the progress of the A30s on the cameras below: http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-base https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-steller-sea-lion-haulout Max 31 Aug 2017 17:25:38 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The orcas came back from the east,had a rub at strider,made a short visit to the Bight and are now silently heading west in Johnstone Strait Hanna 31 Aug 2017 09:04:33 PDT No orcas present. Update from the night: since the A30s and A5s were last identified heading for the Strait via Blackney Pass, we have not heard calls from other groups. These As were, however, very vocal heading towards Critical Point, and could be heard socializing and echolocating in the Bight until about midnight. We have not heard anything since, but since the calls never became very distant again, we think this group may have headed east. The rest of the night has been quiet. Hopefully today will shed some light! Max 31 Aug 2017 05:49:02 PDT