Monday, October 30, 2017





No orcas present.

You have to love humpbacks. Just when you begin to get comfortable the cast of characters changes. Rather like watching a play where different actors slip in and take over someone's role. If you are not watching the key moments you might miss the change. Yesterday we had probably Merge followed by Lucky, Clover, Argonaut and one yet to be identified whales. This was different from the day before with the exception of Merge. Today, a whole different set except for Clover. Will have to spend time tonight reviewing and maybe getting some help from the good folks at MERS.

Helena
30 Oct 2017 18:06:06 PST

Saturday, October 28, 2017





Distant calls audible.

You know it is all good when you can have the first fresh water baths on Hanson Island. Our very famous bath (featured on many a FB page) usually is filled with ocean water during the summer droughts. But for the last two nights (yes! two nights in a row) we have had fresh water baths under clear starry skies with the humpbacks harrumphing and the sea lions growling and the gentle breaths of little seal in the bay. Perfectly lovely! And while we were indulging ourselves in this bliss the A34s are still calling in Johnstone Strait. They have made it at least as far as Cracroft Point after coming through Weynton Pass just after 4pm. Perfectly lovely!

Helena 
28 Oct 2017 19:33:45 PST



Distant calls audible.

After remaining in Blackfish Sound for most of the afternoon, the A34s - without G60/78, decided to move through Weynton Pass around 4pm. Hearing them now in Johnstone Strait.

Helena
28 Oct 2017 16:53:48 PST



Distant calls audible.

Hearing A34s in Blackfish Sound

Helena
28 Oct 2017 11:31:05 PST

Friday, October 27, 2017





Superb sounds!!

Beautiful, beautiful humpback sounds in Blackfish Sound

Helena
27 Oct 2017 18:55:31 PST



Distant calls audible.

After a long forage off the entrance to Blackney Pass we followed the A34s, G17s (saw G60) through Blackney Pass and into Blackfish Sound.

Helena 
27 Oct 2017 09:58:42 PST



Distant calls audible.

Good Morning! After listening to the boats sound their fog horns through the night because of the thick fog which had descended we woke to the calls of the A34s and their G17 friends approaching the entrance to Blackney Pass. The fog has lifted so we are able to watch them foraging. The are a bit distant for the cameras right now but are on both http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-parson-island and https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-cracroft-point-surface and for listening on www.orca-live.net

OrcaLab
27 Oct 2017 08:07:18 PST

Thursday, October 26, 2017





Orcas near mics.

A34s heading north in Blackney now

Helena
26 Oct 2017 15:01:44 PST



Orcas near mics.

Listening (orca-live.net) and watching (http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-robson-bight) the A34s and those G17s move through Robson Bight on their way west.

Helena
26 Oct 2017 09:59:40 PST

Wednesday, October 25, 2017





Superb sounds!!

The humpbacks took over the scene. First vocal in Johnstone Strait, both on Cracroft Point and Critical Point in Robson Bight they have shifted to inside the entrance of Blackness Pass now. Very interesting calls As for the A34s and the G17s (G60/78) they finally around 5 pm made a push south through Blackney Pass. They had the current with them by this time as it had changed around the same time. We followed them through with the cameras and hydrophones until they were heard off Cracroft Point as well as Parson Island. A55 was in front of CP for a while but then we saw someone headed back into Blackness with dolphins. Prior to this others headed off to the west. Then silence (except for a few dolphins) and the whales just simply vanished. It was getting darker so we put the Parson Island camera back on the Cormorant nest and watched the various humpbacks in Blackney once again. We came up with the same humpback list as yesterday, Claw, merge, Freckle and Inukshuk but there are others, in fact, lots of others. Tomorrow! 

Helena
25 Oct 2017 20:03:59 PST



Orcas near mics.

t has been a bit like waiting for paint to dry! The A34s and,Jared informs us, G60 and G78 (G17s) have been going back and forth between Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. In and out of view. A55 has made it the farthest and just now someone is off Harbledown Island. Merge and Freckles have been partners for most of the day working mid channel. Inukshuk was quite exercised earlier and we did see Claw as well. There are other humpbacks but on the far side and no luck with their flukes or dorsal fins.

Helena 
25 Oct 2017 15:41:33 PST



No calls but orcas nearby

Oh boy! So much happening today. We just had an incredible scene with a sea lion very close to the Lab grabbing a flat fish (? halibut) exciting the sea gulls. It took a while to finish. Still on http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-base if you scroll back. This started around 12pm and went on for 25 minutes. Just a short while ago Jared Towers reported the orcas from this morning are east bund at Flower Island in Blackfish Sound with dolphins so we are getting ready. Blowing a northwester right now but the sun is out. Claw and Freckles (humpbacks) and friends have been out and about too this morning.

Helena
25 Oct 2017 12:13:49 PST



Superb sounds!!

We are now hearing G clan calls (G17s) as well in Blackfish Sound after the A34s went north in Blackney Pass.

Helena
25 Oct 2017 08:35:49 PST



Orcas near mics.

A34s in Blackney Pass right now.

Helena
25 Oct 2017 07:51:46 PST

Tuesday, October 24, 2017





Superb sounds!!

Amazing humpback vocals in Blackney Pass. Today it was hard to know where to look. Humpbacks were breaching and feeding intensely . We do know Freckles, Claw, and Inukshuk were back but there were others too. 

Helena
24 Oct 2017 20:31:36 PST

Monday, October 23, 2017





No orcas present.

Like yesterday it has been an amazing humpback day. There are a lot of humpbacks going about their business in Blackney Pass. Everywhere you look there are humpbacks. Last night they finally worked their way over to the OrcaLab side (dark of course) but their breaths rattled the windows they were that close. very exciting. They are back over to mid channel to the far side again this afternoon. So far Wilkinson, Merge, Freckles,Claw and perhaps Inukshuk are out there. And there are others too!. October is such a month. The humpbacks were vocal from time to time during the night, nothing yet today. Earlier we reported (around 9am) hearing Biggs orcas for a while in Johnstone Strait. Yesterday, we heard Gs and A5s. The weather was nicer yesterday so Jared managed to get out but only found the A23s and A25s at the north end of the Plumpers (west of Hanson Island) but no sign of the Gs. Too bad! Today the Cormorant nest on Parson Rock (go to https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-parson-island) has been very active and intriguing. And of course, the sea lions are resting on several rocks today as the wind blows on shore. https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-steller-sea-lion-haulout

Helena
23 Oct 2017 16:21:18 PST



Distant calls audible.

Bigg's calls this morning in Johnstone Strait- just a few.

Helena
23 Oct 2017 08:49:00 PST