Got a report from Darlene that there were about 100 dolphins in the Bight this morning. Cyndi also reported 10+ orca, including 2 males in Blind Channel, (just NE of Seymour Narrows), this morning as well. Perhaps they were part of the large group of 14+ transients that were in our area yesterday as Jim last saw a number of them heading east near Robson Bight at 1pm yesterday. Spring seems to have sprung!
Leah
31 Mar 2012 15:46:31 PST

Distant calls audible. There are pacific white-sided dolphins chatting intermittently in Johnstone strait this morning!!! First time this year that we have heard them! Leah 31 Mar 2012 08:03:35 PST

Distant calls audible.
There were a couple of calls on the speaker, but they have since gone quiet...didn't have time to figure out where they were coming from.
Leah
30 Mar 2012 18:24:42 PST

Superb sounds!! The transients have become very vocal again, this time in Johnstone Strait!! Marie & Leah 30 Mar 2012 12:34:34 PST

Superb sounds!! Just before 8am this morning the T55s went south in Blackney Pass. Then at about 9am Bill & Donna Mackay reported about 12 orca at the mouth of Knights Inlet, when they exited Knights they turned towards Bold Head. They were being very social and vocal!! And now we can hear transients in Blackfish Sound!! Marie & Leah 30 Mar 2012 08:44:25 PST

No calls but orcas nearby
The transients stopped vocalizing at about 03:45 this morning. They ended up at the entrance to Blackney Pass in Johnstone Strait but we're not sure where they went from there as they went silent. Also, Jackie Hildering reported 12+ orca by Ledge Point at ~16:00 yesterday, they milled around for a bit near some sea lions then headed west.
Marie & Leah
28 Mar 2012 10:26:09 PST

Distant calls audible. Transients calling in Johnstone Strait on this windy and wavy early morning. Leah & Marie 28 Mar 2012 00:33:14 PST

No calls but orcas nearby
The transients finally stopped calling at 12:15 this morning. Since then The Borrowman's reported several orcas coming out of Beaver Cove and heading west at 08:50; including 1 male and at least 2 females. Bill & Wendy from Pearse Islands then reported 2 males and at least 4 females heading north very quickly into Cormorant Channel, around 09:30.
OL Crew
27 Mar 2012 09:06:43 PST

Superb sounds!!
The transients are really close to the hydrophone in Robson Bight right now...amazing!!!!
Leah & Marie
26 Mar 2012 18:50:53 PST

Superb sounds!! Amazing calls and echolocation in Robson Bight!!! Leah & Marie 26 Mar 2012 16:59:49 PST

Distant calls audible. The transient's were last heard somewhere around Weynton Passage at ~ 10am. A group of 6+ orcas were also sighted, traveling quite quickly to the west, near Telegraph Cove at 8:27am...which is in the same vicinity. Busy, transient filled morning in Johnstone Strait!!! Leah & Marie 26 Mar 2012 11:24:58 PST

Distant calls audible. The transients have been calling in Johnstone again since 0344 this morning. Unfortunately, the radio in Alert Bay has been switching on and off on it's own, but luckily it is up again for you all to listen :) Leah & Marie 26 Mar 2012 06:00:10 PST

Orcas near mics.
Sounds like a fairly large group of transients in Johnstone Strait!!
Marie & Leah
25 Mar 2012 22:44:48 PST

Superb sounds!! We are hearing very interesting calls in Robson Bight! Marie & Leah 25 Mar 2012 21:39:51 PST

No calls but orcas nearby The T55s headed out of view, to the south, just before noon. The Borrowman's then saw 4 orca including 1 male at Weynton Island, heading west, and hour later...most likely the T55s. Crew 25 Mar 2012 16:52:43 PST

No calls but orcas nearby The T55s headed south in Blackney Pass this morning at 0744 before they turned into Parson Bay for a poke around. They have since been milling off Parson Island in the same spot as they fight the current at max. ebb on this calm, sunny morning! It appears as though they are resting, and there are a number of seals and sea lions in the area. (It is 1005 now) OL Crew 25 Mar 2012 09:08:07 PST

No calls but orcas nearby
We heard a few more transient calls around 14:00 in Robson Bight as the T55s slowly headed east in Johnstone Strait. Jackie reported orca between Sointula & Port McNeill at 14:15. Bill & Donna reported 5 orca, 1 male, west of Haddington island @16:20, they were milling around. Busy day for the orca!
OL Crew
24 Mar 2012 17:22:45 PST

Superb sounds!! Beautiful transient calls in Robson Bight...perhaps it is the T55s!!!! Leah, Marie & George 24 Mar 2012 12:38:02 PST

No calls but orcas nearby We spotted the T055s quietly traveling south in Blackney Pass at 1210. It looked as though they were resting as they were in a tight group doing very long dives. It's a beautiful calm sunny day here! Marie, Leah & Georgina 24 Mar 2012 12:14:27 PST

No calls but orcas nearby Bill & Donna Mackay reported 5 transients, 2 males, 2 females and 1 juvenile, by Port McNeill around 11:30 today! They hung around a kelp patch, which had a few sea lions in it, until 13:15. They left with the sea lions still amongst the kelp and headed to the west. Thanks for the report! Marie 22 Mar 2012 16:41:15 PST

Orcas near mics. Flower Island station was glitching overnight, but as soon as we got it back up this morning there was a close transient call at 0722. It has been quiet since, but you never know what the day has in store  Leah, Marie & Georgina 22 Mar 2012 07:20:59 PST

Performing maintenance Hi everyone, apologies for any confusion about time lately! The time on this page will change to Daylight Savings on April 1st (advance by 1 hour).  OL staff 21 Mar 2012 10:09:22 PST

No calls but orcas nearby

The T18/19s just slowly headed north past the Lab after attacking a sea lion in Blackney Pass. We couldn't be sure if they got the sea lion or not because they didn't hang around after the attack. We were lucky to see them at all because of the fading light as they swam into the night.
Georgina, Marie & Leah
20 Mar 2012 19:50:23 PST

Distant calls audible. The T18/19s traveled north into Blackfish Sound around 10am. We are now hearing calls in Blackfish Sound... chances are that we are listening to them, but with all of the transient activity lately we cannot be absolutely sure! Leah, Marie & Georgina 19 Mar 2012 11:00:04 PST

Distant calls audible. There were a couple of orca calls just now, but so short in duration that we were unable to ascertain where they were coming from...not to mention the boat noise! Leah, Marie & Georgina 19 Mar 2012 07:47:59 PST

There was a minke whale in Blackney Pass today, neat!! S/he was mid-strait abeam the lab traveling south just before 2pm.
Marie & Leah
18 Mar 2012 16:54:41 PST

No calls but orcas nearby Update: It sounded as though the transient's headed east in Johnstone Strait into the early morning, although it was hard to tell as there were so many groups of them milling around the general area yesterday. The last calls we heard were around 1am this morning. Lovely, sunny morning here! Leah & Marie 18 Mar 2012 07:55:17 PST

Superb sounds!!
The transients have become vocal again! They are at the entrance to Blackney Pass and seem to be getting closer to the parson island hydrophone.
Marie & Leah
17 Mar 2012 22:32:12 PST

No calls but orcas nearby It's been a whale of a day... Bill & Wendy called to report ~10 orcas heading back to the east from Cormorant Channel through Pearse Pass and into Johnstone Strait, at 3:45pm. We had already been listening to a number of transients further to the east in JS. Then at 4:32pm a male and female who look to be T142 & T143 respectively traveled north very quickly in Blackney Pass, right past a sea lion swimming 100m abeam of them! What's next??? Leah & Marie 17 Mar 2012 16:05:10 PST

Orcas near mics. There are more transient calls in Johnstone Strait and this time there is no boat noise!!! At the same time we've gotten reports from Bill, Wendy and Maureen to say that there are 15-16 orcas frolicking in Cormorant Channel. Whether some of these guys split off from the others or more whales have come on scene...there are a large number of orcas in the area!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!! Leah & Marie 17 Mar 2012 13:39:08 PST

Distant calls audible. The transients have begun to call again in Johnstone Strait, as they slowly head west. Unfortunately, a number of boats are in transit today as well! Leah & Marie 17 Mar 2012 09:09:31 PST

Boat noise At 0618 there were transient calls in Robson Bight! They have gone silent now and the boat noise is getting louder. Marie & Leah 17 Mar 2012 05:44:48 PST