Distant calls audible.

After the whales finished at the rubbing beaches around 12;30am, and after their calls became distant by 12:40am, it was a relatively uneventful night. Then just after 6am (6:05) faint calls were heard on Critical Point. These very faint and infrequent calls were last heard about ten minutes ago.
Helena
08 Aug 2009 07:00:14

Distant calls audible.

Group of orcas near Blinkhorn going west.
Helena
08 Aug 2009 07:43:22 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Sounds like the A36s are around once more.
Helena
08 Aug 2009 08:29:32 PDT

Distant calls audible.

CP reports seeing the A36s heading east with A12. They came from the west.
Helena
08 Aug 2009 09:22:22 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

Sorry another town run so few notes..... basically what happened today was that the A36s with A12 came into Johnstone Strait around 6am. They then headed east past CP and when opposite the "Cliff" A46 and A12 continued toward the Reserve while A37 foraged midstrait and A32 headed back to CP for a forage. This was about 11am. Reports were beginning to filter through that the A30s,A24s and A5s, who started off in the morning off Kelsey Bay, were making good progress west. By the time A32 was off CP (11am) the bigger group was already up to Port Neville. By the time we neared Alert Bay for our town run the A30s,A24s and A5s were nearing the Broken Islands already (12pm). Two hours later, they were nearing the Eastern Boundary of the Reserve. Another hour, and they were passing through the Reserve while the A36s and A12 were back off CP. Three more hours, they were west of Kaikash Creek, pulling the A36s and A12 along with them. They were, by this time, travelling at a somewhat slower pace and very spread out. We actually, on our way to CP to deliver groceries, passed them when between Kaikash and Blinkhorn. By the time we landed back on Hanson Island and unpacked the rest of the groceries, the whales had turned back to the east. By the time dinner was made, the A36s and A12 decided to go north through Blackney Pass (7:40pm). The A30s,A24s and the A5s were east of Izumi by then and continuing east silently. The A36s/A12 obliged with a few calls but generally it has been remarkably quiet.
Helena
08 Aug 2009 20:58:17 PDT

Seasmoke reports
The fog cleared as we headed down Johnstone Strait this morning enabling good visibility from a distance. The A36’s with A12 were sighted in Johnstone Strait and our encounter with them began at Izumi Rock. A12 and A46 were travelling together tight against the Vancouver Island shoreline, A37 was foraging nearby and A32 was also foraging further back to the west. Passengers watched until A12 and A46 entered the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve at the western boundary just as A37 crossed from the north side of the boundary. A32 was further back west foraging steadily off the Baron Reefs near to Cracroft Point. It was at this same location at Cracroft Point that we again sighted the A36 brothers (three) and the A12 matriline on our afternoon tour. A37 was foraging back and forth and was joined by his brother A32 and together they foraged intensely. At one point A37 passed nearby chasing a salmon. We had seen him lunge diving previous to this so to see him pass by the boat close was thrilling for all onboard. A12 who was foraging directly at Cracroft Point suddenly turned back and passed by the boat as it sat idle giving everyone a chance to view the 68 year old female orca. It was a wonderful viewing, exciting and special because of the extraordinary dynamics shared between the four orcas.