No calls but orcas nearby August 16 2021 Orcas: I4s, I27s, I65s, T099s Humpbacks: Stitch, Ridge, Tag, Guardian, Black Pearl? Overnight, the I15 groups gave us only one brief clue as to their whereabouts, with faint calls in Blackfish Sound for 5 minutes around 1am. A morning report from Alex Morton at 8:15am alerted us to a large group of orcas, spread out, heading for Weynton Passage from her view on Donegal Head at 8:45am. She noted that there could be more than ten individuals and we set about wondering, rather excitedly, if they had picked any other groups up in the night. A short while later, we heard very faint I15 calls on Flower Island, but no new acoustics were in the mix. As we listened to them in the Sound, surprise dorsals from the south heard ‘orcaaaaa’ echoing through the trees. Silent whales had made their way into Blackney Pass from Johnstone Strait at 9:15am, and we all gathered on deck with our ID books on hand to figure out who they were. Long, deep dives and more unfamiliar dorsals lead us to believe that these were Bigg’s. Sure enough, the four ‘ups’ that they gave us during their travel north left us with a few ideas. A little while later, Gary Sutton on the Skana confirmed that these were the T099s. We last heard of them continuing west off Mitchell Bay at 11:49am, after chasing Dall’s porpoises at Stubbs Island. The residents, meanwhile, were heard off Cracroft Point at 9:20am, signifying that at least some of the groups had made their way further east in the Strait. Given the short time between their calls on Flower Island and CP, we were led to believe that they were likely very spread out. They became ever more vocal, and far-reaching Strider Rubbing Beach hydrophone picked them up all the way to the west, alongside the closer calls on Cracroft Point. Finally, at 10:25am, we picked up some fins on CP camera and we could see they were foraging in the rip. Reports from Jackie Hildering out on the Maple Leaf, and the team of Wardens, confirmed that there was a larger group together closer to CP, and a group of three closer to Kaikash Creek on Vancouver Island. By 10:44am the larger group had moved decidedly into Blackney Pass, and at 10:55am they were in our view. The earlier report of ‘possibly more than 10 whales’ had thrown us a little (hoping that perhaps the I16s were now in the mix!) and it took us longer than usual to ID the I4s and I65s who had come in first, and the I27s who came in second at 11am. As they passed Blackney they remained in those groupings - seven and three - and we accepted that, alas, there were no new groups in sight! We noted the behaviour of the I27s once again, separate from the rest and favoring the Hanson Island side, travelling quickly towards Burnt Point and out of view. All were in Blackfish Sound by 11:30am. They made a quick pass through Weynton, headed east through the Strait, and were back in our view by 3:25pm! This time, the I27s were first, with the I4s and I65s coming together a few minutes later. The passing was long and lovely. The I27s would often ‘stop and seemingly wait’ mid-channel, resting on the surface and drifting backwards into Blackfish Sound, while the I4s and I65s closed the gap. The new ‘Parson Light’ was finally finished, and today the latter group went on the far side of the light as they passed and into Parson Bay; something we do not often see. Perhaps aware of the change and getting a good look…? Once again, they continued into Blackfish Sound, down through Weynton and into Johnstone Strait! In their acoustic absence, we all gathered for dinner and kept one ear on the scanner in the main house. Helena had prepared a veritable feast for the eighteen people currently at the lab - the most we have had since 2019! Bellies full, we cleared up and the night shift-ers peeled off to an early bed. At 8:43pm the I15 groups were in the Strait again, and we believe they are slowly easting somewhere between Hanson Island and the Vancouver Island shore. We wonder if they will complete yet another ring around us as the night draws on, and whether this behaviour might mean they are ‘waiting’ for other groups to come in from the west. It has been said that Hanson Island is the center of the universe, days like this certainly make it feel so.  OrcaLab 16 Aug 2021 21:44:02 PDT August 15 2021 Orcas: I4s, I27s,I65s, T041s, T121s,T109s Humpbacks; Ridge, Tag, Guardian, Stitch, possibly Black Pearl and one other Nineteen days and counting. This is the length of time the I15 groups have been in this area. Nearly each day has been marked by their making daily circuits in and out of Johnstone Strait, using alternatively Weynton Pass or Blackney Pass, and making occasional forays into Queen Charlotte Strait. They have become our ÒwallpaperÓ (in the nicest way!), if not always nearby then expected soon. Nights and days have been filled with their calls and everyone here has learned to recognise many of them. Amongst the many things we are learning about these whale we have noticed the distance the I27s has maintained from the I4s and I65s. The I27s are either ahead or following behind, often to the side of the others, never quite in sync. This day was no exception. After being away in Queen Charlotte Strait overnight the I65s and I4s were seen in Weynton Pass heading for Johnstone Strait at 8:22am. The I27s would follow. As the groups moved east in the Strait, a group of BiggÕs (listed above) came from the opposite direction and were seen passing Robson Bight around 9:10am. The BiggÕs and the Northern Residents did not interact as they passed each other. By 11:25 the BiggÕs were now close to Telegraph Cove while the Residents were mid strait west of Kaikash Creek. Unlike the resident orcas, the BiggÕs orcas were silent. There were dolphins around as well but the BiggÕs were not interested and carried on. In a short while the I15s began shifting towards the entrance of Blackney Pass. By 11:50am the I65s were moving along ÒLittle Hanson Island '' making a bid for Blackney Pass proper. Seven minutes later they, and the I4s, were in view of the Lab going north. By 12:05pm they were opposite the Lab with the I27s about to enter. The I27s chose to travel closer to Hanson Island and were able to round the Burnt Point corner and seemingly go out of view ahead of the others who were further across the Pass. It was a nice moment shared by our friends, the Weinbergs, who had arrived earlier in the day . With our boat, the June Cove still out of commission Lance on the Skana kindly brought the Weinbergs to Hanson Island just after Helena and Paul arrived back from town in the Sonic. The ride in the open Sonic was pretty wet so we were very grateful that our friends had a much more sheltered ride. And as a plus the whales came by after everyone was settled in. The rain and mist had temporarily abated and the closeness of the I27s made viewing easy. They cleared at 12:14pm and the I65s and I4s did so three minutes later. They all continued west through Blackfish Sound. As they did so they produced some nice sounds which unfortunately were drowned out by heavy boat noise. There is a large gap in what happened next to the orcas. In the afternoon we said goodbye to Vanessa as she hopped onto the Sonic with Suzie and Mattis who were off to town to complete the shopping for the other assistants and pick up with Patrick and Caroline who have come to help out for the next while. The trip here was in near total zero/zero fog but in time for dinner. The whales returned too and at 7:27pm they began to call. They continued to call for the next two hours in Blackfish Sound, sometimes distant, sometimes louder. At 7:48pm, several persons thought they heard, through the fog, orca blows. Nothing came of this and possibly whoever it was retreated back into Blackfish. The calls ended at 9:37pm. Since then it has been quiet.  OrcaLab 16 Aug 2021 04:35:33 PDT