Thursday, September 15, 2022



September 15 2022 Humpbacks: Guardian, Merge, Black Pearl, Kraken and possibly Claw and Crochet. Pacific White-sided dolphins We skipped the summary for the 14th mainly because most of the day had been very, very foggy and there was very, very little to report. The 15th was a different story. Starting after midnight, the dolphins, who had been so active a couple of days previous, made a return to Blackfish Sound and became very chatty over the course of the next several hours during which they came close to a feeding humpback, went through to Johnstone Strait, produced some deliciously clear vocals, cut close to Cracroft Point and kept going in Johnstone Strait. Afterwards, the humpback who had been mostly distant in Blackfish Sound, drew closer to where the hydrophone is located and made his presence dramatically known at 5;30am. Loud calls and grumbles accompanied water movements, bubble making and terrifically huge slaps on the water by either pectoral fins or tail. The dolphins had woken everyone but the humpback kept everyone awake. Emma got up and kept notes throughout both events. Claire and JŽrŽmie at ÒCPÓ were awake too, first noticing the dolphins rushing (as they do) past the platform at 4:30am and then listening to the humpback in Blackfish Sound. Those overseas or elsewhere had tuned in as well, such a nice community brought together by these shared experiences. Despite the lingering smoke from the recent Interior forest fires the day broke free of fog. We are noticing, like everyone else, how late the sunrises now happen as the earth moves closer to the Equinox. Officially, sunrise occurred at 7:05am. It does not seem that long ago that daylight would begin to creep in as early as 4am followed by daybreak at 5am! The dolphins returned later in the day. Before 10:30am they were sighted in Blackfish Sound heading east. About a half hour later they were in view on the far side. Quixotically they changed direction often, shifting closer to the Hanson Island side and then passing the Lab while still giving the impression of being in a hurry. Surely they were chasing something of interest as they travelled generally east toward the sea lion rocks. No sea lions on the rocks but those in the water joined the dolphins with full body jumps that mirrored the antics of the dolphins. Perhaps they were just making sure the dolphins kept going. Some even went out of sight, others headed over toward Parson Island on the far side once again. Doing another 180 the dolphins travelled back to White Beach Pass, a bit further to Compton Island then back again to Parson Bay. Emma declared, ÒI canÕt keep up! At 12:30pm they were still in the Pass between Hanson and Parson Islands. They were chatty, splashy and foraging. Finally by 1pm they made it to Johnstone Strait where they enjoyed more foraging in the currents of the strong riptide west of Cracroft Point. They went west, then east and then back into the entrance to Blackney Pass and Blackney Pass proper, not slowing down the entire time. Finally around 1:40pm they committed to Johnstone Strait which they crossed, bow-riding a large cruise ship, all the while still chatting away. A breakaway group still in Blackney Pass took their turn on another cruise shipÕs bow as they moved toward Johnstone Strait. During the evening the dolphin movement never stopped. Chatty as ever they found their way back to Blackfish Sound. Do hope they find what they are looking for! At least in the absence of BiggÕs orcas they had the freedom to roam and the chance to feed undisturbed. Meanwhile, several humpbacks took advantage of Blackney Pass. Merge, Guardian, Black Pearl and her baby Kraken were present. Claw and her baby Crochet may well have been there too. In comparison to the frenetic dolphins the humpbacks looked sedate and calm. Quite the contrast. The rest of the evening was plagued with boat noise - a somewhat irritating end of what had been a lovely day. 
OrcaLab
16 Sep 2022 08:21:57 PDT
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Wednesday, September 14, 2022




September 13 2022 Orcas: T018, T019s, T124As,T124C Humpbacks: Merge, Hunter, Guardian We picked up the distant calls of a humpback on Parson Island at 12:49am. He called intermittently in the same location on and off throughout the early morning hours, occasionally sustaining his effort for brief moments. He was never close to the hydrophone. At 5:31am, the Flower Island registered distant calls shortly after a few last calls on the Parson Island hydrophone. It was as if this individual had been in Blackney Pass the whole time, at first favouring the south side then moving closer to Blackfish Sound in the end. It was all over by 5:33am. We noticed a lot of “feed” showing on the spectrogram, probably schools of fish. Distinct bubbles were heard at 4:31am so we imagined this whale had lots of opportunity to feed. It would be a theme throughout the day. Every humpback we saw in Blackney Pass was busily engaged in feeding throughout the day. Telltale signs of seabirds hovering over the surface often preceded great amounts of splashing, twisting and turning of the feeding humpbacks below. The many, many sea lions, yet to really begin their haul-out on the local rocks, were busy looking for food as well. The large group of Pacific White-sided dolphins, who rushed west in Johnstone Strait and into Blackney Pass, seemed on the other hand to have other concerns. No time to stop or even pause. They were first seen at 12:47pm by Claire and Jerémié while at the “CP” camp at Cracroft Point. Ten minutes later they turned into Blackney Pass where they rushed past the Lab on the farside of mid channel. The remote camera at Flower Island followed these speedy creatures as they flew by and carried on to the west in a flurry of splashes and bits of chatter that lasted until 1:50pm. Less than an hour later Bigg’s orcas turned up off of the Sophia Islands, just as the dolphins had two hours before. But instead of coming into Blackney Pass the Bigg’s orcas continued west past CP followed by eight whale watching boats! The T019s with T018 were closest to CP as they passed. The T124As , along with T124C, were mid-strait. By 3:15pm they were in the riptide currents to the west of CP. Fifteen minutes later they were across and heading “up” the Strait to the west. The humpbacks, Merge and Guardian, who had paired up earlier, were foraging in the same rip a short while later. The Bigg’s were still in the Strait at 4:30pm but by then closer to the Stephanson Islands. They were still there an hour later when Paul and Megan were returning from town. Before being drowned out by boat noise more dolphin chatter was heard in the Strait just after 5pm for forty minutes. Bigg’s orcas also became vocal from 6:30pm to 6:44pm before their calls disappeared into additional boat noise. Jared Towers commented that T019C was vocal while off Alert Bay at 6:50pm. We don’t know the details of of the movements of the Bigg’s orcas and the dolphins but it is likely they converged at some point, the dolphins from the direction of Blackfish Sound and the Bigg’s from Johnstone Strait. Were the Bigg’s the reason for the dolphin rush earlier and was it their fate to meet anyway? A large fog bank threatened to engulf Blackfish Sound all afternoon. The Strait was pretty clear but later more fog blanketed the area. So enveloped, day gave way to a much less eventful night.  
OrcaLab
14 Sep 2022 09:30:15 PDT
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Sunday, September 11, 2022




September 11 2022 Humpbacks: Stitch,Quartz, Inukshuk Merge Pacific White-sided dolphins Here were the major events of our day: At 5:23am a humpback obliged by vocalising beautifully when off Parson Island. With Flower Island hydrophone down at the moment it was great that this humpback moved venues. He called until 5:55am. An early dive at Flower Island. This was a tricky dive because the hydrophone mooring had slipped off its ledge to a greater depth. Fortunately, it was, though deep, just within Megan and Suzie’s limit. They managed to secure the mooring which was then hauled up onto the boat. The hydrophone was replaced successfully but it will another dive before it can be deployed. Good work on everyone’s part! In the afternoon, a lone Glaucous-winged gull was seen swimming in the bay. This was the first Glaucous-winged gull seen this summer. Normally they arrive back from their breeding grounds in August. Of course, we were curious, hopeful and almost convinced instantly that this individual was ‘Uni” the Glaucous-winged gull who has been returning to these shores for some twenty years. She earned her nickname by her habit of looking for small green urchins that have moved up the kelp fronds, dipping her head under the water, pulling them off and then carrying them to one of three favourite spots and eating them. Sure enough after a survey of the bay this bird dutifully caught and urchin (uni in japanese) and carried it off. We were then certain and celebrated, hastily explaining to the uninitiated the reason for our glee. Around the same time as spotting Uni’s arrival back we had the task of saying yet more good-byes. Freddy, Nancy and David were leaving. Freddy has been with us since June. In that time she has fully embraced life on the island. Her paintings that adorn the camp kitchen will endure as will the memories of her bread and cheerful disposition. Nancy and David came as a WorkAway couple with Nancy managing the kitchen and preparing dinners for 12 -25. Always upbeat, many times insightful Nancy brought a lot of heart to the job. David did everything, bucking wood, building bat boxes, laying down flooring, constructing a new outhouse, running the boat. His energy,willingness and right helpful attitude was so welcomed. These three will be sorely missed. In the background were humpbacks busily feeding mostly on the far side of the Pass and a group of dolphins in Blackfish Sound travelling south for a while. 
OrcaLab
12 Sep 2022 08:56:47 PDT
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September 10 2022 Orcas: T049As (- T049A1, T049A2) Humpbacks: Stitch, Guardian Pacific White-sided dolphins We start with the moon. For several days now the moon and its companion, Jupiter, have risen over Blackney Pass amidst clear, unimpeded southeast skies. Tonight, the sea lies flat, still and thus receptive to the soft pale reflected lights from above. And so, beguiled by the magic of sea, moon and sky the night begins. All is not quite perfect. In the absence of the Northern Resident orcas our nights seem less busy. We remain vigilant listeners straining, hoping the orcas will return. Not yet it seems. Additionally, our hydrophone at Flower Island is in need of maintenance. The signal has become unreliable denying us the opportunity to hear and record the humpbacks in this favoured location when they start ÒsingingÓ into the dark of night. The nights, therefore are not without shape and substance but now they seem to stretch long without the once familiar busyness of the orcas. On occasion a humpback or two have drawn close to the Hanson Island shore sending their breaths reverberating through the night air; at other times chatty dolphins lend their voices to the void; and of course, the steady ever present drone of far away or closer boats remind us that other purposes are afoot. Daylight began with once again heavy fog and it was a while before it burned off. Morning plans of transport needed to go on hold. David, the ever willing boat driver, at first opportunity, went to Cracroft Point to retrieve Megan and Suzie who were needed for the dive at Flower Island set for later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, visitors, Nicolae and Susanne waited patiently for their ride back to Telegraph Cove. Likewise volunteer Eli who was on their way to Alert Bay on the same trip took advantage of the delay to say more good-byes and finish packing. We will miss EliÕs quick and lively company all the while wondering how those two months went by so quickly. With morning, good-byes and boat trips well under way, life settled down at the Lab. Around 11:30am, we noticed unexpectedly what looked to be the definite shape of a close vocalization on the Critical Point hydrophone. It had not been heard nor repeated. One possible source was the dolphins, reported by Scotty, seen rushing towards the eastern boundary of the Ecological Reserve. Another explanation, suggested later, was the westbound BiggÕs orcas who made a much later sudden appearance off of Cracroft Point. Had these BiggÕs caused the dolphins to rush away in the opposite direction? Jordan and Dori had stepped in to look after ÒCPÓ in place of Megan and Suzie. Just after 4pm, they saw a group of orcas move past them and into Blackney Pass. These whales came into view of the Lab just after 4:30pm just as the dive trip to Flower Island was about to get under way. Kim and Laurens, who had arrived back with David earlier that afternoon, got to see orcas on their first day on Hanson Island! The orcas were arranged in two small groups, three travelling ahead, two behind. They cleared into Blackfish Sound at 4:55pm and continued west. After a brief distraction of watching a mother and baby humpback pair we managed to locate and follow the BiggÕs through the afternoon glare with the aid of the remote camera as they headed past Double Bay and the Plumper Islands. Jared, who was there by this time, identified the group as the T049As. The dive at Flower Island turned out to be more complicated than expected and will need unfortunately an additional dive before the hydrophone can be retrieved and looked at. We gathered at the end of the day for dinner and as there were to be more departures the next day we reminisced about everyoneÕs favourite whale moments of the the summer while eating the last of FreddyÕs delicious cinnamon buns and sipping hot chocolate. So many memories and good times.  
OrcaLab
11 Sep 2022 09:30:59 PDT
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