Superb sounds!! Despite the boat noise (which is possibly moving to Johnstone Strait) the humpback off Parson Island is sounding very nice and clear. Earlier the humpback was on Parson then on the Local hydrophone. It really seems as if they have a preference for this space. I can live with that!  Helena 04 Nov 2017 20:17:05 PST

Superb sounds!! A lovely shift tonight from Blackfish Sound to Blackney Pass. It sounds like two humpbacks actually, one staying in Blackfish, the other making it to Blackney. Helena 03 Nov 2017 19:37:22 PST Superb sounds!! Apparently nighttime is not the only time, lovely humpback calls from Parson Island.  Helena 03 Nov 2017 13:09:22 PST

Superb sounds!! The regular Blackney Pass nightly chorus! Helena 02 Nov 2017 20:22:37 PST

No orcas present. The strong NW wind that was rolling through Hallowe'en was still pretty heavy in the morning. When still in bed (Paul downstairs making coffee) and taking a look around on the OrcaLab camera on the Laptop and while following two engaged humpbacks pushing through the waves, I noticed orca heading north by the Parson Island Light. The usual scramble followed. To the Lab, get the scope out, start a recording, set the camera on the right spot, get the still camera trained on the Pass. Then a really, really long dive. Eventually, they came up and were spread out. The closest ones disappeared on a long dive again but the male (s) remained in view on the very far side. They seemed to get stuck and interested in something over by the Compton shore. This went on for a while (more long dives) until they all regrouped and moved south through the Pass. Conditions were still not great, misty, dull grey, choppy waters, whales on the far side but we managed to keep pace with them and snap a few pictures. But sigh we lost them on yet another long dive when they were off the entrance to Blackney Pass. Kept up the search for a while. There were no calls to offer clues. While searching came across a few amazing humpbacks surfacing beneath flocks of birds on "bait balls". Finally given up went off to do other things. Later in the afternoon, around 2pm, Jared Towers most likely the same group, the T055s and T060s go past Alert Bay. Well that was convenient! On the humpback front, Ripple and Hunter have been around as well as Clover. Helena 01 Nov 2017 20:29:28 PST

No orcas present. You have to love humpbacks. Just when you begin to get comfortable the cast of characters changes. Rather like watching a play where different actors slip in and take over someone's role. If you are not watching the key moments you might miss the change. Yesterday we had probably Merge followed by Lucky, Clover, Argonaut and one yet to be identified whales. This was different from the day before with the exception of Merge. Today, a whole different set except for Clover. Will have to spend time tonight reviewing and maybe getting some help from the good folks at MERS. Helena 30 Oct 2017 18:06:06 PST

Distant calls audible. You know it is all good when you can have the first fresh water baths on Hanson Island. Our very famous bath (featured on many a FB page) usually is filled with ocean water during the summer droughts. But for the last two nights (yes! two nights in a row) we have had fresh water baths under clear starry skies with the humpbacks harrumphing and the sea lions growling and the gentle breaths of little seal in the bay. Perfectly lovely! And while we were indulging ourselves in this bliss the A34s are still calling in Johnstone Strait. They have made it at least as far as Cracroft Point after coming through Weynton Pass just after 4pm. Perfectly lovely! Helena  28 Oct 2017 19:33:45 PST Distant calls audible. After remaining in Blackfish Sound for most of the afternoon, the A34s - without G60/78, decided to move through Weynton Pass around 4pm. Hearing them now in Johnstone Strait. Helena 28 Oct 2017 16:53:48 PST Distant calls audible. Hearing A34s in Blackfish Sound Helena 28 Oct 2017 11:31:05 PST

Superb sounds!! Beautiful, beautiful humpback sounds in Blackfish Sound Helena 27 Oct 2017 18:55:31 PST Distant calls audible. After a long forage off the entrance to Blackney Pass we followed the A34s, G17s (saw G60) through Blackney Pass and into Blackfish Sound. Helena  27 Oct 2017 09:58:42 PST Distant calls audible. Good Morning! After listening to the boats sound their fog horns through the night because of the thick fog which had descended we woke to the calls of the A34s and their G17 friends approaching the entrance to Blackney Pass. The fog has lifted so we are able to watch them foraging. The are a bit distant for the cameras right now but are on both http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-parson-island and https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-cracroft-point-surface and for listening on www.orca-live.net OrcaLab 27 Oct 2017 08:07:18 PST

Orcas near mics. A34s heading north in Blackney now Helena 26 Oct 2017 15:01:44 PST Orcas near mics. Listening (orca-live.net) and watching (http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-robson-bight) the A34s and those G17s move through Robson Bight on their way west. Helena 26 Oct 2017 09:59:40 PST

Superb sounds!! The humpbacks took over the scene. First vocal in Johnstone Strait, both on Cracroft Point and Critical Point in Robson Bight they have shifted to inside the entrance of Blackness Pass now. Very interesting calls As for the A34s and the G17s (G60/78) they finally around 5 pm made a push south through Blackney Pass. They had the current with them by this time as it had changed around the same time. We followed them through with the cameras and hydrophones until they were heard off Cracroft Point as well as Parson Island. A55 was in front of CP for a while but then we saw someone headed back into Blackness with dolphins. Prior to this others headed off to the west. Then silence (except for a few dolphins) and the whales just simply vanished. It was getting darker so we put the Parson Island camera back on the Cormorant nest and watched the various humpbacks in Blackney once again. We came up with the same humpback list as yesterday, Claw, merge, Freckle and Inukshuk but there are others, in fact, lots of others. Tomorrow!  Helena 25 Oct 2017 20:03:59 PST Orcas near mics. t has been a bit like waiting for paint to dry! The A34s and,Jared informs us, G60 and G78 (G17s) have been going back and forth between Blackfish Sound and Blackney Pass. In and out of view. A55 has made it the farthest and just now someone is off Harbledown Island. Merge and Freckles have been partners for most of the day working mid channel. Inukshuk was quite exercised earlier and we did see Claw as well. There are other humpbacks but on the far side and no luck with their flukes or dorsal fins. Helena  25 Oct 2017 15:41:33 PST No calls but orcas nearby Oh boy! So much happening today. We just had an incredible scene with a sea lion very close to the Lab grabbing a flat fish (? halibut) exciting the sea gulls. It took a while to finish. Still on http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-base if you scroll back. This started around 12pm and went on for 25 minutes. Just a short while ago Jared Towers reported the orcas from this morning are east bund at Flower Island in Blackfish Sound with dolphins so we are getting ready. Blowing a northwester right now but the sun is out. Claw and Freckles (humpbacks) and friends have been out and about too this morning. Helena 25 Oct 2017 12:13:49 PST Superb sounds!! We are now hearing G clan calls (G17s) as well in Blackfish Sound after the A34s went north in Blackney Pass. Helena 25 Oct 2017 08:35:49 PST Orcas near mics. A34s in Blackney Pass right now. Helena 25 Oct 2017 07:51:46 PST