September 4 2020: T59s, T55s(Tribune), Humbacks,PWD The day began shrouded in fog, almost zero/zero visibility with just the top of Parson Island showing. The Strait was fairing better. Another big day was being planned to go to Strider Beach and finish the installation of the new hydrophone, retrieve other equipment and check on connections. Each person assigned to get everything ready for “a day at the beach”. With the Residents still on their hiatus, being in the Reserve for this kind of work was less complicated. While Gloria prepared coffee and snacks to take along, Megan gathered up the equipment and tools that would be needed. Then as Paul went to check on the amount of fuel left in the June Cove and then bring her in to shore for loading, Pippa, Megan and Gloria assembled everything and loaded the boat. The fog put a slight pause on the proceedings but this gave everyone the extra time to get breakfast and wait for Matchu who was to join the effort from Double Bay, . Quin was already up and continuing with the installation of the new mixer in the Lab, work he began the night before. This was not as simple as it sounds and this endeavour began months ago with many discussions, exact planning and (sometimes frustratingly complicated) ordering of the various components. Last year’s volunteer, Jeremie Collado, even though currently in France due to Covid restrictions, was extremely instrumental in guiding the choices of equipment and eventual installation. It was a great collaborative effort and over the last two days the Lab has undergone a transformation (still ongoing) that allows all the different elements of the past months upgrades to hydrophones to be more easily managed. Quin has also overseen the integration of the various cameras on the VMIX platform which has enabled us to deliver near seamless video from the remote cameras to the Internet. Not bad for a guy (and OrcaLab) who happened by on a canoe two years ago and came back for a closer look! As new arrivals, April and Meg, settled in to getting familiar with the Lab, its routines etc, the expedition to Strider got underway just after mid morning with the arrival of Matchu. They would be there the majority of the day. Jenn kept an eye on Moss, Pippa’s Springer Spaniel puppy who has become a great part of the life around the Lab. Impossible not to get caught up in this puppy’s exuberant energy, but child-like, Moss also needs to go for naps to recharge so there were periods in the day when her cheerful presence was missed. With the clearing of the fog, the humpbacks were more easily seen and not just heard. They are still using the farside of the Pass as they forage and travel back and forth so the view is still somewhat distant for observers and even the camera. We heard from Kate on Malcolm Island that a lone humpback with a damaged fin was heading east. We suggested this might be Squiggle who Suzie saw further west the day before. Other humpback reports suggest the wide range and occupancy of these humpbacks. Yvonne near Echo Bay reported yesterday seeing two individuals nearby while Jim Borrowman reported on Thursday (September 3) that there were two humpbacks near Telegraph Cove with very similar shark-like dorsal fins. Really such a success story from their near elimination on this coast by whaling. By late afternoon the trip to Strider Beach was completed and everyone returned reversing their earlier packing efforts. Megan’s dive gear was rinsed off, tools and equipment put away. Just before dinner was set to be put on the table JD called to say that the T59s were off Licka Point and about to come into Blackney Pass. Like the T69s the day before the T59s made straight for Blackfish Sound with very few breaths. We later learned that their path had taken them south along the Malcolm Island shore to Stubbs Island where the Skana first saw them. The Skana heard a loud bang and turned in time to see a Dall’s Porpoise fly through the air. AJ later found the porpoise still alive after the strike. The Bigg’s then went on to scare another group of Dall’s Porpoise and may have successfully hunted for a seal a short while later. Such is the life of Bigg’s orcas. Sympathy always naturally goes to the victim but these guys have to make a living too in order to survive. Lance Barratt-Lennard commented on the robust condition of this group so they must be very successful at hunting. Our glimpse of this group was just that, a “glimpse”, and before we knew it they were gone from our view. The rest of the night was quiet. The waning moon did another spectacular rise over Parson Island, even more orange than before. Nice way to be led into the night. OrcaLab 05 Sep 2020 09:11:45 PDT