Sunday, November 30, 2008

Transients near Stephanson Islands

No orcas present.

Here is a brief summary of the last few days. On Thursday, Nov 27, Jim Borrowman reported that he could see two male orcas by the Stephanson Islands across from Telegraph Cove. The day before, Nov. 26, he took photos of T7, T7A and T12A so he wondered if the whales he was seeing on the 27th were the same transient group. Meanwhile, there are still humpbacks and sea lions around. We are still waiting for the photos of the group of twenty to be processed. We will hopefully let you know soon. Grey, wet and sometimes windy days continue.
Helena
30 Nov 2008 10:53:09 PST

Monday, November 24, 2008

Unknown orcas

No calls but orcas nearby

A rather interesting day: approximately 20 orcas off Alert Bay early this afternoon. The whales headed west toward Port McNeill. We will know soon who this might have been. Stay tuned!
Helena
24 Nov 2008 21:50:29 PST

Sunday, November 23, 2008

More transients

No calls but orcas nearby

Yet more transients in Blackney Pass this morning. The 7 were travelling in two groups and by the looks of it "on the hunt". Two humpbacks were also moving in the same direction not too far from the orcas. Lots of sea lions in the Pass. There were no calls that we were aware of. The orcas disappeared up into Blackfish Sound.
Helena
23 Nov 2008 10:59:19 PST

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Transients in Blackfish Sound

No orcas present.

three days have gone by and nothing to really report. There have still been humpbacks and sea lions and there were two days of fabulous weather. Today, it is windy, grey and wet. Looking back over the last 20+ years, we believe this has been the shortest northern resident season to date. November is not over and there may be more to come but we are keeping track and mindful that this has been a dismal salmon season as well and that this probably provides a big clue about the orca's behaviours. Fingers crossed that they are enough finding food elsewhere.
Helena
20 Nov 2008 10:15:38 PST

Distant calls audible.

A small group of transients, close to the Hanson Island side of Blackney, and foraging, just went up into Blackfish Sound. They have made a few sounds and their splashing was quite audible too.
Helena
20 Nov 2008 16:14:14 PST

Sunday, November 16, 2008

No orcas present.

The humpbacks are still hanging around the area and the sea lions have yet to move on. Typically grey November seas and skies round out the picture.
Helena
16 Nov 2008 21:47:47 PST

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Dolphins and Humpbacks

Orcas near mics.

There be dolphins in the entrance to Blackney Pass.
Helena
13 Nov 2008 14:12:26 PST

No orcas present.

This afternoon 4 humpbacks travelled through towards Blackfish Sound: Two adults together followed by a mum and calf. Dolphins and sea lions surrounded the whales.
Helena
13 Nov 2008 16:14:26 PST

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

No calls

No orcas present.

All pretty quiet today. We did hear of a report of an orca sighting in Johnstone Strait yesterday. We did not hear any calls yesterday.
Helena
12 Nov 2008 16:58:39 PST

Monday, November 10, 2008

Vocal Humpbacks in Blackfish Sound

No orcas present.

Audio is back. Sorry for the inconvenience and fingers crossed that it will last! We have not heard orcas since November 3rd but the humpbacks have been quite vocal. Hopefully, they will be again soon. Today, most of the calls were in Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass as the humpbacks moved back and forth.
Helena
10 Nov 2008 19:07:51 PST

Monday, November 03, 2008

A36s and Gs still around

Distant calls audible.

This morning we continued to hear the A36s, then the Gs and now the As once again. Possibly they took the ebb to the west this morning.
Helena
03 Nov 2008 12:03:26 PST

Sunday, November 02, 2008

A36s and G17s are back!

Orcas near mics.

They are back! For the last while we have been listening to the A36s and the G17s in Blackfish Sound. It has been two weeks. The humpbacks and sea lions continue to be a presence in Blackney Pass as well.
Helena
02 Nov 2008 17:27:35 PST

No calls but orcas nearby

It sounds like at least the A36s made it to Johnstone Strait via Weynton Pass.
Helena
02 Nov 2008 19:43:28 PST

Friday, October 31, 2008

No orcas present.

Two humpbacks were just in front of the Lab. They were fairly close and once again surrounded by dozens of sea lions. It took a while but they finally showed some of their flukes and we managed to snap off a picture or two. Amazing air sounds and even a few spy hops. Nice trick, nice treat.
Helena
31 Oct 2008 15:15:04 PST

Thursday, October 30, 2008

No orcas present.

It was a great night. The humpback was vocal on and off for a quite some time, nothing too extended but lots of clear calls in Blackfish Sound nevertheless, just lovely. Windy here this morning, October almost over.
Helena
30 Oct 2008 10:18:13 PST

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Humpbacks calling

Superb sounds!!

We are definitely hearing humpback calls again! Quite exciting.
Helena
29 Oct 2008 18:36:42 PST

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Humpback whales and Transients

No orcas present.

Well, it has been quite the day! Around 12:30pm we became aware of humpback calls in Blackfish Sound. Soon after a humpback came into Blackney surrounded by sea lions. The humpback was making lots of in-the-air noises. Another humpback came into view, further over, on the cusp of Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. This humpback was also making lots of loud exhalations. Over the next few hours these whales went back and forth. The calls dropped off after a while.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 16:12:39 PST

No orcas present.

We got a report from the MacKays that 6 orcas, most likely transients, were in Port McNeill harbour area around 6:30pm. These whales headed west. The humpbacks are still in Blacknney Pass.
Helena
28 Oct 2008 21:05:13 PST

Sunday, October 26, 2008

No orcas present.

We still have not heard the A30s return. Lots of sea lions around. The weather is fairly changeable.
Helena
26 Oct 2008 10:53:55 PST

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A30s left to the north

No orcas present.

Yesterday and today (so far) have been very quiet. The last we heard from the A30s was when they faded off in the distance from Blackfish Sound two days ago.
Helena
23 Oct 2008 16:20:38 PDT

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Distant A30 calls audible

We have been listening to the A30s in johnstone Strait since just before 11am.
Helena
21 Oct 2008 13:25:38 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A30s are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
21 Oct 2008 15:56:45 PDT

Monday, October 20, 2008

A30s moving around in the area

Distant calls audible.

It has been aa nice day so far, after the storm, wind and rain (well almost after the rain)... the A30s were in Johnstone Strait this morning and left via Blackney Pass. They are now in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
20 Oct 2008 14:46:29 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We had just restarted recording of the A30s in Blackfish Sound when we noticed T14 mid channel, heading north, through Blackney Pass!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 16:42:00 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A30s are back in Johnstone Strait once again!
Helena
20 Oct 2008 19:21:20 PDT

Sunday, October 19, 2008

No calls but orcas nearby

The A30s are back in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
19 Oct 2008 08:03:10 PDT

Saturday, October 18, 2008

A30s back on track

Distant calls audible.

The A30s are once again off the western end of Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 08:42:42 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A30s are now back in Johnstone Strait. They most likely went through Weynton Pass to get there.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 10:37:11 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We are now hearing distant A1 calls in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
18 Oct 2008 13:57:29 PDT