Orcas near mics. The dolphins have moved into Blackney Pass. Helena 03 Sep 2010 14:39:37 PDT Distant calls audible. Not orca but 1000 dolphins in Blackfish Sound off Double Bay. Very chatty as they mill about and herd fish. Helena 03 Sep 2010 12:09:04 PDT No orcas present. We heard no calls overnight. Foggy & cool morning here, feels like fall has arrived. Helena 03 Sep 2010 07:33:09 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Transients here, transients there, transients, transients everywhere! The small group of transients (T02, T101B, Y101A,T101) circled around Hanson Island. At 9:30am they were off Blinkhorn and the western end of Hanson Island. From there they went east and past CP by 10:15am. They are moving very quickly eastward. Also, T14 plus two females and a calf were off the Campbell River dock this morning at 9:30am. They have since continued south and are off the south end of Quadra Island. T20 and T21 were seen off Thurston Bay just before 10am. The pretty good network of observers are doing well keeping track! Thanks to Christie, the Cliff, Aaron, Jack, the Lukwa and the Naiad fo keeping us informed. Helena 02 Sep 2010 11:12:11 PDT No calls but orcas nearby A group of 4 transient orcas (1 adult male, 2 females, 1 "sprouter") has just headed north through Blackney Pass. They are now in Blackfish Sound, and are silent. Helena 02 Sep 2010 08:15:09 PDT Orcas near mics. The transients have been vocal for nearly three hours! Would love to know why. There has been constant boat noise from fish boats in transit and at work along with cruise ships. Just about without relief. There were dolphins, first in Blackfish Sound and then Blackney Pass. The transients sounded like they moved closer to Robson Bight. Helena 02 Sep 2010 02:40:38 PDT Distant calls audible. We're hearing distant calls from transient orcas on the Critical Point hydrophone. Not sure where the transients are, but it's likely they are in western Johnstone Strait. Helena 02 Sep 2010 02:36:10 PDT Distant calls audible. We're hearing distant calls from transient orcas on the Critical Point hydrophone. Not sure where the transients are, but it's likely they are in western Johnstone Strait. Helena 01 Sep 2010 23:09:58 PDT No orcas present. Audio should be ok now. The Lab computer did a security check which we missed. Sorry. No reports, no updates to offer right now. Helena 01 Sep 2010 20:44:49 PDT No orcas present. The morning updates are in and it appears there is a group of orcas off Camp Point. Jack identified seven transients who are being very social with each other this lovely morning after all the rain. They are west bound. Yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm Kingfisher Kayak group saw 5-6 ocas come into Johnstone Strait from Weynton Pass. The pictures are being looked at in Telegrapg Cove and we will update when we know more. There were also whales seen heading west at 6:30pm (maybe the same group) off the Wastells near Telegraph Cove by the Songhees. No identification of this group was determined. Helena 01 Sep 2010 10:19:15 PDT No orcas present. We don't believe any of the groups (the A30s, A12s, A36s, A5s, Cs, I11s, I15s, G17s,G29s,G2s, G27s,G31s) who were here yesterday, have returned. They were last seen spread from Wells Passage out to Malcolm Point and all still moving generally west through Queen Charlotte Strait. Lovely morning here though. Helena 01 Sep 2010 09:01:00 PDT No orcas present. Whew! A very exciting day with over 100 whales passing through the area this morning. To summarize: Last night the I15s came into Blackney Pass and back to Johnstone Strait by 3:30am via Weynton Pass, just in time for the groups coming west toward the Ecological Reserve who became audible to us around 4am. A steady progression then ensued with the C10s and C6s along with the I11s first to pass the entrance to Blackney Pass around 7am. A12 and the A36s then led part of the "parade" past the Lab starting from 7:21am. An hour later, the A34s had followed A12 & the A36s, then the G17s, G29s,G31s,I15s and G12s. They caried on through Blackfish Sound, past Donegal Head and west along the "backside" of Malcolm Island. The Cs and the I11s went west to Pearse Pass and turned west into Cormorant Channel. As these groups were continuing on their respective paths, the A30s, A5s and possibly I68 formed the rear and chose to go through the more conventional route out through Weynton Pass and across the western end of Blackfish Sound. Since all this began the tide has turned and is now in flood. Helena 31 Aug 2010 12:23:45 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. A parade of orcas has passed northwards through Blackney Pass. They included the A36s with A12, the A34s, G17s, G31s, G29s, I15s & G2s. Many of the groups are now in Blackfish Sound, & we're listening to them on the Flower Island hydrophone. We think the A30s, A5s, Cs, & possibly I11s are still in Johnstone Strait. Helena 31 Aug 2010 08:55:33 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Sounds like many of the groups have come back from the east. The I15s have also come back into Johnstone Strait. Helena 31 Aug 2010 05:23:48 PDT Distant calls audible. There are groups (As) heading toward the east end of the Ecological Reserve. hey are coming up from the east. Helena 31 Aug 2010 04:28:43 PDT Distant calls audible. And now they are in Blackfish Sound moving on. Helena 30 Aug 2010 23:34:03 PDT Orcas near mics. After hours of silence, the I15s are in Blackney Pass! Helena 30 Aug 2010 23:23:53 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The I15s turned back east after moving into Weynton Pass around 6pm. A small group of dolphins had been very attentive to the orcas when they were in Weynton Pass. On coming back into the Strait they began a slow cross to Blinkhorn on the Vancouver Island shore. Helena 30 Aug 2010 19:14:08 PDT Distant calls audible. The I15s are crossing the entrance of Blackney Pass. Helena 30 Aug 2010 15:27:18 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The I15s turned west just after 1pm at the "overturned boat" across from Naka Creek. They have made their way back and are probably not far from CP by now. There have been the scantest of calls. Helena 30 Aug 2010 14:42:09 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom. The I15s are at the beaches along with the fish boats. There are reports from the eastern Johnstone Strait and beyond. Apparently, the C6s are off the dock at Campbell River and possibly the C10s are now north bound and were off Maude Island at 9:30am after travelling Seymour Narrows south. Helena 30 Aug 2010 11:14:13 PDT Orcas near mics. As the I15s near Robson Bight they have become vocal Helena 30 Aug 2010 10:29:17 PDT No calls but orcas nearby We believe the I15s came back in via Weynton Pas this morning and have since proceeded east. They are probably east of Kaikash Creek. They went silent and there is fog in jonstone Strait at the moment. Not a good combination for tracking whales. Helena 30 Aug 2010 09:45:57 PDT Distant calls audible. We are also hearing I15s and wonder if they are coming from the other direction. Helena 30 Aug 2010 07:17:37 PDT Distant calls audible. Possibly, some of the groups are moving back west toward the Reserve again. Helena 30 Aug 2010 07:10:43 PDT Distant calls audible. Just now, we can hear distant calls once again! Not yet sure of the source. Stand by.....Last night, the I15s went l through Blackney Pass, headed into Blackfish Sound and were away to the west at midnight.The other groups, (the Gs, A30s and A5s) continued to travel east away from the Ecological Reserve in Johnstone Strait. We last calls we head were at 2am. It must be quite a crowd! Helena 30 Aug 2010 07:00:53 PDT Orcas near mics. After shifts to an fro, the I15s,so very chatty have come to Blackney Pass. Helena 29 Aug 2010 23:14:15 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. The scene is shifting past Critical Point to the east end of the Reserve. We have heard both A30 and A5s come closer from the east and the Gs (including the I15s) shift eastward. We don't think the whole of the G1 pod is there, perhaps one of the smaller matrilines and it may be that the I11s are travelling in two grooups as are the I15s. That said they are really all travelling together but in different position within the parade. Helena 29 Aug 2010 21:28:46 PDT Orcas hunting fish. It's snack time in the Bight... party time too! Helena 29 Aug 2010 21:10:33 PDT Superb sounds!! Despite the background boat noise, we're hearing very clear, and excited G clan calls on the Critical Point hydrophone. Both G1 & G-I groups are there, and several other G and A clan groups are not far away. Sounds like the orcas are organising themselves for tonight's big party - just hoping it happens within our listening range! Helena 29 Aug 2010 20:32:01 PDT We are being bookended. There are whales returning to the east end of the Reserve, still some distance away. And the G clan whales are still advancing east, now just off the entrance to Blackney Pass. Apparently, I68 (our previously mystery "group" is off the east end coming west, perhaps to meet up tonight with her pod, the I31s! That is exciting. Now the I15s are off the east end too. We know from Rob Williams that the I11s might be the trailing group from the west. Helena 29 Aug 2010 18:50:50 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. There new incoming whales from the west. We are hearing I31/I11 type calls along with G1 calls as well. Very exciting - must still be summer! Helena 29 Aug 2010 18:04:19 PDT Boat noise All we're hearing on our hydrophones at the moment is boat noise. The orcas who were traveling east earlier this afternoon are now beyond Naka Creek, still eastbound. Other orcas are heading west from eastern Johnstone Strait & may meet up with the A30s & co soon. It will be interesting to see if they all get together and head back our way (or not). Helena 29 Aug 2010 16:11:24 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom. The groups have moved past Critical Point and are rubbing now. Helena 29 Aug 2010 13:12:45 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The groups suddenly went quiet, stopped opposite Big Bay and then went quickly to the east silently. They are quite mixed up so not many visual ids yet other than the C6s. We did hear,before they went quiet, distant A5 and A30 calls. The whales are proably past izumi Rock (west of the Ecological Reserve's western boundary), still east bound and still quiet. Lots of boat noise. The salmon run is now extimated to be closer to 30 million - amazing. Helena 29 Aug 2010 11:18:13 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. The Cs have made it to Johnstone Strait through Weynton Pass after milling off Double Bay. They sound like they are heading east with the accompanying As. There is quite a spread . Nic as she pass CP earlier around 9am saw a small group off the Baron Reefs heading east. We are now hearing A1. This might be the A30s ahead of the parade approaching the entrance of Blackney Pass. Last night,we heard the A30s,I15s and some of the A5s pass the entrance of Blackney Pass heading west just before midnight. We believe they continued to the west and may have possibly gone out to meet the incoming Cs only to return this morning. Telegraph Cove had whales off the entrance to Weynton Pass around 7am. At the same time, we heard A5s and A1s approaching Robson Bight. We are not sure how far west these groups got as their calls faded off soon after. (Lukwa Wayne reports seeing some of the C6s this morning). Helena 29 Aug 2010 09:45:07 PDT Distant calls audible. Now we are hearing distant A5 calls on the Critical Point hydrophone, and also have reports of orcas in Weynton Pass, off Double Bay, and near Stubbs Island. The plot thickens. Helena 29 Aug 2010 08:39:38 PDT Distant calls audible. All the calls we're hearing (A1 & C) are now distant on the Flower Island hydrophone, so we think the orcas who were in the Strait may have gone north through Weynton Pass on the slack tide. The tide is now ebbing, so it's possible everyone will drift or head north for a while. We are waiting. Helena 29 Aug 2010 08:29:32 PDT Distant calls audible. We are hearing distant A1 calls on the Critical Point hydrophone, and think the A30s are in western Johnstone Strait, possibly having recently come "in" via Weynton Pass. We have also been hearing B Subclan calls on the Flower island hydrophone, and think some of the Cs are in Blackfish Sound, heading for Johnstone Strait. Helena 29 Aug 2010 08:01:28 PDT Distant calls audible. The A30s,A5s and I15s are carrying on to the west after crossing the entrance to Blackney Pass. Another group has come up to Robson Bight from the east. Helena 28 Aug 2010 23:13:35 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. There are orca groups spread from the entrance to Blackney Pass all the way back to the east end of the Reserve. We suspect that otheres( possibly the A12s and A36s) are also returning from the east following the A30s and the A5s and the I15s. Helena 28 Aug 2010 22:42:48 PDT Orcas near mics. The A5s are passing CP fairly closely on this westward trek. Will they come into Blackney Pass with its very welcoming moon? Helena 28 Aug 2010 22:33:32 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. The A30s,A5s and I15s are up to the entrance to Blackney Pass now. Helena 28 Aug 2010 22:27:08 PDT Orcas near mics. The I15s, followed by the A5s & A30s, have arrived in Robson Bight. Sounds like the II5s are a hungry, after their long rest today. Helena 28 Aug 2010 21:29:29 PDT Distant calls audible. We're hearing distant calls from the I15s, A5s, and A30s on the Rubbing Beach hydrophone. Sounds like the I15s, who were silent all day as they circumnavigated Hanson Island and slowly headed east in Johnstone Strait past the Ecological Reserve, have found some company & are returning. This night could get interesting! Helena 28 Aug 2010 20:33:10 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The I15s after circumnavigating Hanson Island drifted through Blackfish Sound close to Hanson Island. They came into our view at 10:31am still close to hanson Island. They naturally drifted a bit off shore but they were very slow and relaxed and together. Despite two boats who had not a clue that they were disturbing the whales at a very relaxed moment. The whales moved further into mid channel. The tide turned to the ebb while they were in Blackney Pass and so the whales angled back toward hanson Island, got a bit of help from the back eddy and cleared our view at 11:28am. Almost an hour! lovely treat on a fine day. Apparently, they made it to Cracroft Point. There were no calls. Helena 28 Aug 2010 12:17:18 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Orcas are coming down Blackfish Sound, towards us... they are silent for the moment & we're not sure who. Helena 28 Aug 2010 09:57:39 PDT Boat noise The I15s turned around quickly and headed back into Johnstone Strait via Blackney Pass around 6am. We've heard no calls since then, only boat noise, but think at least the I15s aren't far away. Helena 28 Aug 2010 07:50:05 PDT Orcas near mics. The I15s have just headed north through Blackney Pass. They have "A" orcas with them, though we're not sure who. We're hearing the calls on the Flower Island hydrophone. Helena 28 Aug 2010 04:07:12 PDT No orcas present. No calls and no boat noise to speak of - very quiet. We believe the I 15s probably went off to the east to meet up with the A1 group waiting east of the Reseve despite the ebbing tide. Helena 27 Aug 2010 22:02:52 PDT