Superb sounds!! This is so amazing! Beautiful humpbacks in Blackfish. Helena 15 Oct 2011 22:55:56 PDT

Superb sounds!! The humpbacks are going again, now in Blackfish Sound. Helena 15 Oct 2011 22:43:18 PDT

No orcas present. Wouldn't you guess it - the humpbacks went silent just after we posted!  Helena 15 Oct 2011 21:51:47 PDT

Orcas near mics. We got the computer and live streaming going again tonight because the humpback calls have been so interesting in Blackney pass this evening. Earlier there were humpback calls of a different variety in Blackfish Sound as well. The moon is up, the sea lions are growling, the ocean is flat - all quite beautiful in this corner of the world. Helena 15 Oct 2011 21:09:04 PDT

Performing maintenance We will be stopping live streaming soon, and may be down for as much as a day, while we do some work in the lab (installing new thermal windows). Apologies for the inconvenience, and hoping all's well with you all. Paul & Helena 15 Oct 2011 16:59:48 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby Jared Towers reports that the T46Cs,T49As and Bs are in the area. He left them heading east from Hidden Cove (just west of Telegraph Cove). He also mentioned that they were very vocal so we have begun a recording but have not heard anything yet. This is probably the same group who went north past us at 6pm yesterday. The females of this group each have a "kid" and Jared remarked how the "kids" were playing with each other very vigorously. Helena 15 Oct 2011 15:31:18 PDT

No orcas present. 5 humpbacks came together and travelled south together toward Johnstone Strait. This is so amazing! Helena 15 Oct 2011 11:52:04 PDT

No orcas present. Hardly able to say it was a "quiet" night as there were so many boats in transit throughout the night. Quite the headache. There were a few humpback sounds around 11:30pm. This morning there were a few distant dolphins and then some humpback sounds again. There are at least three humpbacks in Blackney Pass moving arouns a lot opposite the Lab. Yesterday, it was the humpback named Domino who was in the middle of the trio who passed close to the Lab. No identity of the other two companions. Helena 15 Oct 2011 10:50:43 PDT

Superb sounds!!

And there are humpback sounds mixed in again.
Helena
14 Oct 2011 18:41:26 PDT



Superb sounds!!

These transient calls are on Flower Island. Just before 6pm we noticed a small group of transients heading north mid channel opposite the Parson Island Light. They stalled off Compton Island, changed direction, before continuing into Blackfish Sound. We were distracted by two humpbacks who rolled their way to the north close to the Lab. Pretty amazing scene today - a little and a lot of everything!
Helena
14 Oct 2011 18:39:38 PDT



Distant calls audible.

Incredible humpback scene just off the Lab - three big humpbacks close together skirted our bay then turned and swam opposite the Lab to the closest headland (at 4:13pm) and then into Blackfish Sound. Three other humpbacks were going back and forth at the same time on the far side of the Pass. And then there were distant calls and then close water sounds and breath near Flower Island. All on a sunny day!
Helena
14 Oct 2011 16:55:33 PDT



No calls but orcas nearby

Apparently the T55s are back in town. Jackie from the MapleLeaf reports that they came from the west and almost reached us but turned back before they were in view at 9am. They have had a successful couple of hunts. Right now they are opposite Double Bay in Blackfish Sound where there are humpbacks as well. Helena
Helena
14 Oct 2011 09:48:04 PDT

Superb sounds!!

Great humpback calls in Blackfish Sound!
Marie
12 Oct 2011 20:48:21 PDT



No orcas present.

The group of 6 transients that went past the Lab earlier are now approaching the Plumper Islands where the T55s turned up just before. Looks like the two groups are about to reconnect. (This is all to the west of Hanson Island).
Helena
12 Oct 2011 10:45:57 PDT



No calls but orcas nearby

A very fleeting look at passing transients, perhaps the same group ,the T49s, as yesterday. They headed north mid channel, just one sighting, after a group of about 100 dolphins flew past. The dramas continue!
Helena
12 Oct 2011 10:02:42 PDT



Distant calls audible.

Humpbacks calls in Blackfish Sound on this beautiful calm morning.
Marie
12 Oct 2011 07:02:38 PDT



Orcas near mics.

Humpbacks again! In Blackfish Sound, getting closer. The dolphins have continued in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
12 Oct 2011 00:59:56 PDT

Orcas near mics.

And now dolphins! This day has had everything! These guys are close to Robson Bight but maybe on the move.
Helena
11 Oct 2011 21:21:07 PDT



No orcas present.

All quiet now except for the boats. BUT that was so interesting to hear the transients and the humpbacks vocal at the same time and not too far away from each other.
Helena
11 Oct 2011 20:51:52 PDT



Orcas near mics.

Not only humpback sounds but also transient calls, now in Blackney Pass. They are quiet now but we can hear their blows - I guess they were not done for the day! The T49s were last seen heading towards Johnstone Strait before dark.
Helena
11 Oct 2011 19:41:20 PDT



Orcas near mics.

Tonight, humpbacks starting early in Blackfish Sound!
Helena
11 Oct 2011 19:20:38 PDT



No calls but orcas nearby

Jared Towers identified the group of 5 as the T49s. They came out of Baronet Passage and have been hanging out in Blackney Pass ever since. They have recently been worrying the sea lions but so far not clear that they have attempted more than cruising unless they are actually after seals.
Helena
11 Oct 2011 17:04:24 PDT



No calls but orcas nearby

Today, 4 transients (one male) headed past Port Mcneil this morning. This is possibly yesterday's T55s. A bit later knight Inlet Lodge came across a group of 5 (no males) in Baronet Passage (west side of Cracroft island). This sounds like yesterday's group of 5. This group went all the way to Clio Channel and then turned aroud and are come back through Baronet Passage towards Blackney Pass so perhaps we will get another chance to see them. No longer sure if the T18/19s were actually around yesterday. T55A may have been mistaken for T19B at a different angle. Humpbacks (not vocal) went north into Blackfish Sound. Jared Towers reported that a couple of days ago there were 15 - 20 humpbacks in the area west of Blackfish Sound. Amazing! Today, Dalls porpoise were foraging in Blackney opposite the Lab.
Helena
11 Oct 2011 12:40:04 PDT



Superb sounds!!

More great humpback calls, this time in Robson Bight.
Marie
11 Oct 2011 04:10:30 PDT



Distant calls audible.

The humpback moved south in Blackney Pass and into Johnstone Strait, vocalizing throughout. There are still a few very distant calls.
Marie
11 Oct 2011 03:03:55 PDT



Superb sounds!!

Wonderful humpback calls in Blackfish Sound!!
Marie
11 Oct 2011 01:28:50 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
Small correction, the T55s and the group of 5 are together opposite the Lab mid channel. The T18/19s looked at first like they were going to join in but then disappeared. The whales opposite are generally moving south at the moment but there is quite a lot direction changes.
Helena
10 Oct 2011 16:59:46 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
Since 1:30pm we have been watching the T55s and another unidentified group (looks like the same group that went into Parson Bay early evening a couple of days ago when the T55s showed up off CP. These two groups came out of Johnstone Strait and grouped together in Parson Bay. They then went north for a bit after a quick tour of the Bay. Since then they have returned south and now there is a third transient group out front, the T18/19s who also came from the Strait. All three groups are cruising mid channel in front of the Lab, mostly pointed north. There are two humpbacks in Blackney and lots of sea lions and some exercised dolphins as well. Busy afternoon! Earlier we heard what sounded like humpback in the Strait.
Helena
10 Oct 2011 16:53:32 PDT

No orcas present.
Much quieter now after the busy night! I need to correct the last position. It was not Blackfish Sound but Blackney Pass. The wind died down by daylight but is picking up again now.
Helena
10 Oct 2011 09:36:03 PDT

Superb sounds!!
The action has moved to Blackfish Sound.
Helena
10 Oct 2011 05:17:11 PDT

Superb sounds!!
Great transient calls in Johnstone Strrait with dolphins not not far away.
Helena
10 Oct 2011 02:51:51 PDT

Superb sounds!!
Very chatty dolphins in Robson Bight this morning!
Marie
10 Oct 2011 01:32:28 PDT

Boat noise
There were a few humpback calls in Blackfish sound amongst all the boat noise.
Marie
10 Oct 2011 00:14:35 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
The T55s came east in Blackfish Sound and into Blackney Pass where they cruised through a porpoising group of sea lions. They did not take a sea lion but they did stall off the corner of Hanson Island and then reversed to come north close to the same shore once again. They continued close to the Hanson Island shore as they passed the Lab and returned to Blackfish Sound. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Helena
09 Oct 2011 17:54:10 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
The T055s just popped out of Blackney Pass and are heading east in Johnstone Strait, while the other group of 5-6 orca are still out of view behind Parson island!
Marie
08 Oct 2011 19:11:46 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
A short while ago Kurt noticed an orca in Blackney Pass. A bit later a group of 5 or 6 was seen travelling south on the far side by White beach Pass. The group moved into Parson Bay and disappeared from our view behind Parson Island. There is a loud boat travelling through Blackney Pass. There may have been a few very faint calls before th orcas started to move south. We think this is a transient group.
Helena
08 Oct 2011 19:01:26 PDT

Distant calls audible.
The dolphins have been quite chatty but distant for quite a while. They are prresently in Blackney Pass and Blackfish Sound.
Helena
08 Oct 2011 05:07:53 PDT

Superb sounds!!
Fantastic dolphins calls in Johnstone Strait this morning!
Marie
07 Oct 2011 04:31:28 PDT

Boat noise
There were a few really neat humpbacks calls in Blackney Pass but unfortunately they have been drowned out by tug boat noise.
Marie
07 Oct 2011 01:34:24 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

Actually, our nightly humpback just a short while ago in Blackfish Sound again. Today, the T18/19s with the T46s were around and another large group of dolphins went past Alert Bay in a BIG hurry this afternoon, perhaps excited by the transients or something yummy!
Helena
06 Oct 2011 21:59:17 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby
Just got a report from Sean (Knight Inlet Lodge) that there are orca in Robson Bight, most likely transients. We haven't heard any orca but lots of dolphins in the Bight!
Marie
06 Oct 2011 10:51:16 PDT

No orcas present.
The T123's and T046B's went west by Alert Bay yesterday morning, thanks to Jared Towers of DFO Pacific Biological Station for the IDs!
Marie
06 Oct 2011 08:11:25 PDT

Distant calls audible.
Wow, more humpback calls in Blackfish sound tonight!!
Marie
05 Oct 2011 22:19:07 PDT


Orcas near mics.There are more humpback calls in Blackfish sound this morning!
Marie
05 Oct 2011 04:22:10 PDT

Orcas near mics. Dolphins in Robson Bight. Marie 05 Oct 2011 00:31:54 PDT

Superb sounds!!
Humpback calls in Blackfish sound again this evening. Sounds like there might be 2 humpbacks!!
Marie
04 Oct 2011 19:47:48 PDT

Distant calls audible. The dolphins are still very chatty in the Bight. They have been very active and vocal all night! Marie 04 Oct 2011 07:18:48 PDT

Superb sounds!! Great humpback vocals in Blackfish sound!! As well as dolphins in Robson Bight. Marie 04 Oct 2011 00:49:30 PDT

Distant calls audible.
There were a few distant humpback calls in Blackney Pass, hopefully they get closer!
Marie
03 Oct 2011 21:20:45 PDT

Distant calls audible. Sounds like the transients are moving west in Johnstone Strait. Marie 03 Oct 2011 20:15:21 PDT

Orcas near mics. There are transients calls in Robson Bight! Marie 03 Oct 2011 18:38:19 PDT

No orcas present. Still no word on the whereabouts of the Northern Residents but the sea lions are sure enjoying the chum salmon! I did hear one transient call at 11:25 this morning so someone is out there... Marie 03 Oct 2011 15:06:52 PDT

Distant calls audible. The dolphins are near CP this morning. Marie 03 Oct 2011 02:03:58 PDT

Distant calls audible.
More chatty dolphins in Johnstone Strait!
Marie
02 Oct 2011 05:21:39 PDT

Distant calls audible.
Dolphins in Robson Bight again tonight.
Marie
01 Oct 2011 21:24:27 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby Just got a report from Jared that the T055s are milling around in Weynton pass. Marie 01 Oct 2011 13:02:09 PDT

Orcas near mics.
More dolphins! This time in Robson Bight.
Marie
30 Sep 2011 22:36:43 PDT

Distant calls audible. There were a few distant humpback singing calls and distant dolphins calls in Blackfish sound...keep listening hopefully they get louder! Marie 30 Sep 2011 19:57:20 PDT

Orcas near mics. There are ~200 very chatty and active dolphins right in front of the lab! They are with ~40 sea lions as well 2 humpbacks not far away! Good feeding spot this evening. Marie 30 Sep 2011 19:03:26 PDT

Superb sounds!! Strange and wonderful humpback sounds from near Robson Bight. Helena 30 Sep 2011 04:30:09 PDT