Orcas near mics. July 14 2020: A30s [A50s, A54s]; Humpbacks: Argonaut, Stitch and Quartz After yesterday’s excitement everyone is probably anticipating an equally exciting sequel. Right? Today, however, was a bit simpler although it did have its moments too. Yesterday, all the groups, save the two matrilines of the A30s, the A50s and A54s, departed the area to the west. As we mentioned the I12s and the A24s left yesterday morning and the A23s (and possibly the A85s) left in the evening after spending the day in Johnstone Strait with the A30s. Their departure capped that truly exciting day, made so by our first real glimpse of Strider Rubbing Beach activity and listening to the new Kaizumi hydrophone. All the kinks in the new system have yet to be worked out but we have made huge strides and are learning to be patient with unexpected glitches. The upshot of the evening departure of the A5s (the A23s and A85s) was that after the A30s saw their companions out to Queen Charlotte Strait they remained. There were a few hints of their continued presence from 2:11am to 2:34am when there were a few calls heard to the west of us. A long gap followed before another hint at 6:05am. They were still somewhere between Blackfish Sound and Queen Charlotte Strait. Finally, however, they made a commitment to head for Johnstone Strait early afternoon. At 1:30pm Jim Borrowman reported seeing about 10 whales off Weynton Island. He surmised that they were the A30s. From there the A30s entered Johnstone Strait and chose the Vancouver Island shore from which to head east. They were clocked at 2:36pm by the Cliff Researchers/Wardens just west of Kaikash Beach. From there it was a straight run “down” to Robson Bight. By this time their calls became clearer as they neared the Ecological Reserve. When hearing tale-tell stronger echo location we looked around and found them on the remote camera in the Bight at 4:19pm. We believe the A54s filed past the eastern headland of the Bight and headed for our new most favourite site, Strider Rubbing Beach soon after. Sure enough they went in for a rub while the A50s lingered further west off the Western Boundary of the Reserve. The rub officially started at 5:05pm, and like yesterday, the activity was very focused, up-close and personal. It is quite something to share these most intimate moments with the whales. A privilege for certain. We were happy that the explore.org audience were able to join in the experience this time from the start. A few of the whales were seen off the Main Rubbing Beach. They produced some very wonderful calls. During these rubbing sessions we have been surprised by the interplay between the hydrophones located at the two beaches. The Strider ICListen hydrophone is deeper and further out than the Main rubbing beach hydrophone which is in much shallower water. What we are discovering is that calls originating from either location are sometimes being heard on both depending on the position of the whales. The two beaches are separate but geographically relatively close. It speaks to how unique the Ecological Reserve is as a destination for these orcas. What is abundantly clear is that these whales are serious about the ritual of rubbing. In total the A30s were at or near the beaches for two and half hours. During that time the A54s gave way to the A50s so that they could have a turn while they returned to the Bight. During the hour the A50s stayed at Strider we could hear once again calls from Robson Bight. We guessed that this was the A54s. As they picked up their calls the A50s did likewise. Eventually, duty called and the A50s shifted offshore and moved slowly to the west. We were disturbed to see a kayaker in the Reserve near the beaches. They whales were well offshore by this time but the kayaker ( it turned out to be two) moved steadily west behind the whales. Had they disturbed the whales? Hard to say as we did not notice them until the A50s moved. There is, however, reasons why the Reserve is off limits to human traffic. It is a welcomed refuge from all the business of Johnstone Strait. Disappointing to see this intrusion. The Wardens were notified for their records, however, the day was advancing and it would have been difficult for them to intercept. Meanwhile, the A30s were about repeat yesterday’s movements. Spread out, they passed out of the Bight, and carried “up” the Strait toward Cracroft Point. It was 9:21pm when Kory saw them passing the Sophia Islands. Forty minutes later they were in the entrance to Blackney Pass and beginning to move into Blackney Pass and head north. Half an hour later they were getting closer to Blackfish Sound where they could be heard foraging. We had seen quite a lot of jumpers (salmon) earlier on the remote cameras. Looked like both Pink & Sockeye salmon, not on the menu perhaps, but maybe an indication that there are salmon generally moving through now. Apparently, quite a few Chinook salmon (definitely on the menu) were reported off Port Hardy days ago and yesterday we heard cavitation (crunches) just before a whale surfaced with a fish in its mouth while at Strider. It would certainly be a relief if the salmon returned. That was our day. Dark has now descended, the cameras are off, we are left with just ocean sounds and the calls of the A30s.  OrcaLab 14 Jul 2020 23:49:24 PDT Superb sounds!! We have some nice calls from the A30's on our Critical Point hydrophone as they head east in Robson Bight!   Megan 14 Jul 2020 16:13:33 PDT Superb sounds!! Nice A1 calls in Blackfish Sound, as the moon rises over Parson Island! Listen with us: www.orca-live.net/community Suzie 14 Jul 2020 02:23:31 PDT