Sunday, July 29, 2007

29 July 2007, Orcalab reports:


Multiple pod calls audible.

Hmmm.... we just had the A5s and the A12s go through Blackney pass in very mixed fashion. They have headed east and may have been joined by the A36s.
Helena
29 Jul 2007 12:12:36 PDT

Superb sounds!!

After the A36s merged with the A35s (who had been sitting off Blinkhorn before moving east to Kaikash Creek) the whales crossed over to the entrance oF Blackney Pass and for a while everyone went west. Behind them the A12s and the A5s were moving west as well. After reaching the entrance to Blackney Pass they all looked like they were going to head back east but they then stalled. Although drifting and changing direction they have been very vocal. Word has reached us that there are other groups in Queen Charlotte Strait heading this direction. Despite the constant boat noise the calls have been constant and clear, everyone chatting at once.
Helena
29 Jul 2007 15:50:25 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

After shuffling back and forth in Johnstone Strait all the groups (the A5s, A35s and the A12s) finally left via Blackney Pass on the ebb. Prior to this,the A36s left the strait via Weynton Pass and headed to Blackfish Sound where they acoustically interacted with the small A11 group (including Springer) as they made their way through Blackfish Sound toward Blackney Pass. The a36s continued west by themselves. Just after the A11s came into our view we became aware of the whales exiting Johnstone Strait. The A11s turned and led everyone away into Blackfish Sound. There were not many calls during all of this. way. The A30s apparently continued eastward to Nodales Channel. We do not know where the A24s are at the moment.
Helena
29 Jul 2007 20:22:42 PDT

Saturday, July 28, 2007

28 July 2007, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

The A30s are off Lizard Point. The A24s and the A36s are west bound recently out of Nodales. Dolphins are leaping all over Blackney Pass.
Helena
28 Jul 2007 20:14:39 PDT

Friday, July 27, 2007

27 July 2007, Orcalab reports:

No calls but orcas nearby

For us it was a quiet night butasmall group of orcas managed to slip by silently this morning. They headed north out of Johnstone Strait and through Blackney Pass. Last night, the A24s were last seen still heading east (could it have been them this morning?) and the A36s were still hanging out just inside Nodales Channel.
Helena
27 Jul 2007 07:58:32 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

It has been a slow day for the A24s. They were the group who went through Blackney Pass before 7am. They spent the day in Queen Charlotte Strait.They are in Blackney Pass right now working their way slowly through against the current. They are taking advantage of the tide by foraging as they go. "Progress" is slow and relaxed. A78 breached just before they started to slip backwards towards the north again. it may be a while before we find out how determined they are to get back to Johnstone Strait or whether they bide their time until the turn of the tide at 11pm. They are not vocal, not even echol locating so far. The A36s were reported to have left Nodales Channel at 1pm and sort of moving west although they were still not far from Chatham Point.
Helena
27 Jul 2007 20:51:22 PDT

Thursday, July 26, 2007

26 July 2007, Orcalab reports

No orcas present.

Between 12:25amand 3:30 am the A24s travelled west in Johnstone Strait and north through Blackney Pass. We believe the A36s are still east as the last report (thanks, Nick) said that they were last seen yesterday evening in Nodales Channel.
Helena
26 Jul 2007 07:47:24 PDT

No orcas present.

A further morning update: 7 orcas were seen this morning heading west through Queen Charlotte Strait at Black Bluff. There were apparently males in the group so we wonder now if the A36s joined up with the A24s rather than remaining east as we first thought. The MacKays also report that acruiseship sighted two large groups heading east just south of Port Hardy. Itmay get busy yet!
Helena
26 Jul 2007 08:17:10 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

It has turned out that the A36s did remain east and this morning the A24s turned around and are now eastbound from Lizard Point.
Helena
26 Jul 2007 10:38:06 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

The A24s made it all the way back to the Strait via blackney Pass. They headed quickly to the east and are now off the Main rubbing beach.
Helena
26 Jul 2007 16:46:27 PDT

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

25 July 2007, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

We have fixed our internet problem and so can once again post comments. The morning before last the A36s came back to the area. They travelled through Blackney Pass and on to eastern Johnstone Strait. Following several hours behind were the A24s. Prior to these visits, we had the C10s, C6s and D7s pass through. They followed (by a day or so) the A12s, A11s, A35s, A43s and A51s back out past Port Hardy. All in all it has been busy but with considerable gaps in the action around these parts.
Helena & Paul
25 Jul 2007 13:51:12 PDT

Boat noise

The A36s and the A24s are together BUT they only got 1/2 the way back to Kelsey Bay (Ripple Point) before turning and heading back toward Nodales Channel at the eastern end of Johnstone Strait.
Helena
25 Jul 2007 15:06:02 PDT