Superb sounds!! Just before 1am there were calls heard in Robson Bight as the whales headed east. The calls lasted until 1:12am and then it was quiet. We are not sure if the Main rubbing beach system was having issues but the morning sunrise was beautiful with no immediate sign of orcas in Johnstone Strait until the Naiad Explorer reported a group entering, from the east, into Robson Bight and travelling west along the Vancouver Island shore. Shortly afterward A30 calls were heard on the Main rubbing beach system, issues seemingly resolved. The whales sounded excited. As the whales hurried westward a mum and a baby were seen rubbing on the underwater camera. As the westward movement continued toward the Kaikash and Cracroft Point area there were at least 3 humpbacks in Blackney Pass. There has been increased humpback activity lately in Blackney Pass, as well as, off Cracroft Point. All the orcas generally remained closer to the Vancouver Island shore, however, at 1:39pm, the A50s foraged off of Cracroft Point. By 4:39pm, the whale watch boats were reporting that the whales were headed toward Blinkhorn and Telegraph Cove. The afternoon glare is always a challenge when looking west from Cracroft Point but just after 5pm we could make out distant blows in the direction of Blinkhorn. Then at 5:19pm Megan found another group heading west off Little Kaikash. IDs were difficult given the distance and conditions. After a short break Megan and Shari again reported that there was a group, now headed east, off Little Kaikash Beach (west of CP) and by 8:06pm there was a group mid strait off of the Blackney Pass area. We located these orcas on the Parson Island camera heading north into Blackney Pass and then identified them at 8:37pm as the A42s as they came into view of the Sea Lion camera. The A42s continued north through Blackney Pass. A66 became engaged with a humpback just off the Parson Island Light. Both rolled over and around each other. A little while later a juvenile (possibly A88) also swam beside the still rolling humpback. Ahead, the others, A42 and A79 in a tighter group with their young ones foraged as they carried on toward Blackfish Sound. There were only a few calls. Just before 9pm we began to hear the A30s who were still in Johnstone Strait - a good clue that there was about to be a lot of movement in the next few hours.  Orcalab 27 Aug 2019 22:26:56 PDT