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July 31 2024 A34s ( - A62s), [A42s plus A94 Salish Sea] BiggÕs orcas: T060s, T069s Minke whale: Bolt Humpbacks: Argonaut and Corporal Even on the days when nothing seems to be happening there are events which grab our attention and make us realise that not everything revolves around the Northern Residents. Most days they are our focus and drive our activities around the Lab. This year we have had the privilege of observing Northern Residents ever since early July. Such a contrast to last year when we had to wait until mid August for the orca scene to develop. It sadly lasted for such a short time. This year has seemed much closer to the historic normal we had come to expect. So what about this day? The A34s still had a presence. After midnight they began calling while off the entrance to Blackney Pass. They had spent just a few hours in the Strait before they turned and came back through Blackney Pass. The sea was calm, the calls beautiful and their blows pierced the night. It was a perfect pass. By 1:17am they were gone. Through the night they would continue westward. The morning was blanketed with deep fog once again and so at 8:30am when they passed Bere Point Kate heard them call but did not see them. This was the last we knew of their whereabouts. Unlike other recent days they did not return. The morning shifts rolled by without any word. However, BiggÕs orcas, the T069s went west from Bere Point at 11:45am. Later in the day, the T060s showed up off Jumble Islands in Knight Inlet around 7:48pm. It is so interesting that it is often the case that we experience the coincidence of seeing and hearing dolphins in the area followed up by sightings of BiggÕs orcas. The Minke Whale ÒBoltÓ came into Blackney Pass from Blackfish Sound around 5pm. Uncharacteristically, Bolt surfaced repeatedly while supposedly foraging back and forth in front of the Lab mid channel. Usually, Minke Whales take long dives, sometimes up to 20 minutes, so sightings are often sporadic and opportunistic. It helped that the skies had cleared and the seas were calm - Made for a nice moment on the deck as everyone gathered to watch. There are only about eight Minke Whales that regularly inhabit this area. Not a lot of humpback activity occurred but Argonaut was in Blackney Pass once again while Corporal was off Cracroft Point. And so went this last day of the month. It has been a wonderful month and we can hope that August has some other surprises in store.
OrcaLab
31 Jul 2024 23:33:54 PDT |
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July 30 2024 A34s ( - A62s), [A42s plus A94 Salish Sea] Humpbacks: (at CP: Argonaut, Ridge, Quartz, Black Pearl and baby, Magician) Pacific White Sided dolphins YesterdayÕs deep fog showed signs of lifting part way through the morning. The stirring wind was enough to push it away so that the mountains of Vancouver Island and the surrounding hills began to be features of the landscape once more. The air was full of refreshing moisture and the skies grey. The A34 group had stayed away in Queen Charlotte Strait during the night. At 6:50am Kate at Bere Point heard their calls coming from the west. A male showed up less than a mile away but then disappeared around 9:30am. A few dolphins made an appearance both in Blackney Pass and in the entrance way in Johnstone Strait. It was up to the whale watch boats to then pick up the trail. At 12;07pm Ocean Magic II saw the A34s enter into Blackfish Sound. They were spread out between Donegal Head and Swanson Island. It was not long after that we began to hear their calls at 12:37pm. We took a peak using the remote Sea Lion cam and could see them in Blackfish for ourselves. The first group filed into Blackney at 1:43pm. A55, A34, A96 and A132 along with A80 were identified in that order. By the time they reached the space between Parson Island and Hanson Island they had managed to get closer to each other as they passed out of our view to the south. It was then over to Shari at ÒCPÓ. She first saw a single male at 2:23pm and then others at 2:39pm. Generally, the whales looked like they were heading east. The Sonic was returning from Alert Bay loaded with groceries and laundry and more importantly with Tomoko who was returning after a five year absence. Amazing to realise it had been five years. But because Tomoko kept just a text message away each summer on a regular basis it has not felt like she ever really left. She has the amazing ability to listen to the audio feed and offer guidance as to which whales are calling. The time difference between here and Japan works in our favour and because of this difference Tomoko is able to offer help to those on night shift. Her efforts have been so appreciated. Now she is back she can do this in person! That is once the jet lag wears off! During the ride back a few Dalls porpoise swam by the SonicÕs starboard side just past Double Bay and then just a short while later, on the port side, and further out, a small group of orcas headed to Burnt Point. The Sonic slowed down to make sure to not close in on the orcas who were angling in earnest to Burnt Point just west of the Lab. This turned out to be the A67s and as they approached closer to the Hanson Island shore they milled and spy hopped before resuming southward. The Lab was watching. As the A67s moved ÒdownÓ to the sea lion rock area south of the Lab, the Sonic managed to finally get around Òthe cornerÓ and land at the Lab. By this time, Scotty was reporting that the lead group (SimoomÕs A34 group) were foraging close to the Vancouver Island shore near Izumi Rock. EclipseÕs A67 group were not yet through Blackney Pass but they soon would be and when they were off CP they foraged, sometimes close to the camp, formed a resting line of sorts then turned to swim after the rest of their family. SimoomÕs group were already into the Ecological Reserve after 5pm and as part of their eastern trek went in for a quick rub between 5:19pm and 5:21pm. This would not be their only effort. The rub was repeated from 5:47pm to 5:49pm. They did not rub at Main beach but that hydrophone picked up their calls as they continued east. EclipseÕs group were still well behind and believed that they only arrived at Robson Bight by 8:48pm. There was some very clear echolocation at this time so perhaps their progress had been further delayed by more foraging. Calls in the Bight continued for a while longer. By 9:59pm we had lost track of either groupÕs movements. Shari at CP was fortunate enough to see, in addition to the orcas, the humpbacks Black Pearl and baby, as well as Argonaut taking a hiatus from his usual Blackney Pass haunt. Quartz, Ridge and Magician. Ridge was lunge feeding during the morning and Scotty remarked that he saw several sea gull casualties in the area sparking ShariÕs comment that maybe the humpbacks had been a little ÒcallousÓ with their lunge feeding. Additionally during the day there was a report of part of the R5s near Ketchikan and Dylan, doing survey work on the central coast, chimed in that they had the R5s as well as some of the R17s 15 miles west of Calvert Island a few days ago. With them were the I18s, I4s, I65s (remember them?) and the I27s. By the end of the day, the mist, the fog and the rain took over once more. Looking into the forest the relief of moisture was palpable with hues of intense green and the ground softened underfoot. The rain barrels had become full once again. The rain also meant that the sauna fire could be lit so everyone might enjoy a shower before collecting their newly laundered clothes.
OrcaLab
31 Jul 2024 04:00:16 PDT |
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