29 September Orcalab reports:

07:27 PDT Orcas near mics.
A short while ago whales (Gs) arrived back in the Robson Bight area. They sound like they came up from the east and are now westbound.

08:37 PDT Distant calls audible.
The G group sounds like it is definitely heading west. This sounds like the group which went east at 4:30am yesterday morning. We have not heard last nights groups yet this morning.

10:22 PDT Distant calls audible.
The whales are still milling off the entrance to Blackney, sometimes shifting west and then back to the east. Most of the activity is in the rip just to the west of CP.

13:12 PDT Orcas near mics.
The Gs have moved from Johnstone Strait to Blackfish Sound via Blackney Pass.

15:37 PDT No orcas present.
It has been a while now ( 12:30pm) since the Gs ( the G3s & G18s) left Balckney for Blackfish Sound. Unfortunately it has been a busy "boat" day with lots of heavy traffic in transit through the area. The weather is trying to improve though.

28 September Orcalab reports

04:42 PDT Orcas near mics.
We were woken up by lots oif G clan calls on Critical Point. We also heard only briefly a few A1 calls as well. The whales sounded like they were already past Cracroft Point and closing in on Robsob Bight. The group we have been listening to now sound as if they are past Critical Point on their way to the east. Were they the last grroup?

12:15 PDT No orcas present.
We have been trying to sort out the distant A1 calls we heard at 7am. They were over before located. However, the A36s turned up not too far away near Lizard Point in Queen Charlotte Strait later this morning. Captain Wayne on the Lukwa (Stubbs Island) phoned to let us know. The weather is unsettled today so Wayne most likely elected to go west because the Gs that went east in the Strait earlier (4:30 am) have not been seen or heard from since. Wayne lucked out with the A36s. The tide will turn to the ebb around 3pm so perhaps this will encourage the eastern whales to venture back in range.

15:31 PDT Distant calls audible.
Just a short while ago we started hearing A36s and G clan calls on Flower Island.

17:21 PDT Distant calls audible.
The G clan & A1 groups we were listening to in Blackfish Sound earlier have now moved into Johnstone Strait via Weynton Pass. We're listening to them in the distance on the Critical Point hydrophone.

18:12 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
The groups have moved east to opposite the entrance of Blackney Pass in the Strait. The calls remain somewhat distant and therefore we think the whales are closer to the Vancouver Island shore. Visibility is poor due to the rain & low cloud..

20:29 PDT No calls but orcas nearby
The A36s are obviously interested in Blackney Pass but they are calling so infrequently it is difficult to know if they are coming into the Pass. The wind has picked up once more and it is impossible to hear if there are blows outside. The Gs have been silent for quite a while now.

27 September Orcalab reports:

06:48 PDT Distant calls audible.
Good morning everyone! We've been listening to the A12s as they make their way north through Blackney Pass, and a short while ago heard what sound like the I15s in Blackfish Sound. The A12s breached several times in Blackney Pass, making us think they might be excited at the prospect of meeting up with incoming orcas!

08:08 PDT Distant calls audible.
Indeed the A12s and probably the A36s as well have met up with incoming G clan whales! They are currently milling together at the top end of Blackfish Sound undecided at the moment which direction they will choose. Lovely September morning here.

08:54 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
We think we are hearing the G3s at the moment on Flower Island. The seems to be other G clan whales as well and we are waiting for a bit more clarity. Another boat is moving through Blackfish.

22:08 PDT No orcas present.
The big group of Gs and A1s have not yet come back to this part of the area. They were last seen well west in Queen Charlotte Strait but they had turned at that time (Naiad Explorer report). We'll have to "see" what tonight brings.

19 September Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

It looks like all or most of the groups that headed "out" early this morning are heading back "in". Others, including the G17s, are possibly with them, or following. At the moment, we're listening to the A30s on the Flower Island hydrophone, & we've also heard the I15s. The last of this day & the night ahead could be busy!
Paul
19 Sep 2005 16:56:07 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Sometimes standing still is the perfect thing to do. This evening in front of the lab the I31s, I33s and I11s passed by mid channel ahead of the I15s and the A30s. When just past the lab in they all suddenly made a loud collective burst . Then as they re-surfaced most were pointing the opposite direction towards Blackfish Sound. After some serious milling they all headed off back to the north silently. The evening colours on the calm sea were wonderful and as the whales disappeared we could hear the A12s moving eastward in the Strait. The A12s had passed us just a short while before only they actually made it to the Strait. So CP too had its treat when the A12s passed closely by. Amazing and wonderful.
Helena
19 Sep 2005 19:53:37 PDT

16 September Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

From the sounds the whales seem to be making their way back to the west past the Reserve. We have heard so far the A30s, G17s, possibly the A36s and either (or both) the I11s and I31s. The I15s will probably add themselves to the list at some point as well. Lovely morning, lovely whales even with the persistent boat noise.
Helena
16 Sep 2005 07:16:56 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

Some of the westbound orcas are on the Cracroft Island side of the Strait, passing CP. Channel A. Others are on the Vancouver Island side, near Kaikash. It looks like at least some of them are going to head north through Blackney Pass.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 08:22:08 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We're hearing occasional distant calls on the Critical Point hydrophone as the orcas move to the western end of Johnstone Strait. A few minutes ago, we also heard distant calls on the Flower Island hydrophone, though we're not sure who was making them.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 09:42:00 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We're still hearing occasional distant calls from the various groups (A30s, A36s, I15s, I11s, G17s) that now spread out across Johnstone Strait at the Weynton Pass end. The sounds we heard in Blackfish Sound a while ago were probably from dolphins.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 11:04:28 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The close calls we've been hearing are from A54 & A75. The other A30s are further out in the Blackney Pass "gap". All are foraging. Meanwhile, it looks like the other groups near Weynton Pass may be turning back to the east, though we're not yet sure. Orcas have also recently been sighted near Lizard Point, westbound.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 12:38:53 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A30s moved off to the west from Blackney Pass a while ago, but have now turned back to the east again. They are visibler on Channel A. We're hearing their calls on the Parson Island Hydrophone. The other groups decided to head north through Weynton Pass, against the flooding tide. Some of them are at the "top" of Blackfish Sound, others are still in Weynton Pass. We're hearing G clan calls in the distance on the Flower Island hydrophone. Meanwhile, a group of transients has been sighted off Bold Head... they are now heading towards the Penfolds.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 14:17:09 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A30s have moved back towards the west from Blackney Pass, possibly to meet up with the rest of the groups they were with earlier (A12s, A36s, I11s, G17s) now re-entering Johnstone Strait at Weynton Pass.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 15:46:40 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Just a short while ago we started hearing the A36s and G clan calls (I11s most likely) on Flower Island. Previous reports from the whale watch boats had said that the I11s had doubled backed through Weynton Pass after just reaching the Strait. The impression then was that the other groups including the A12s nd the I15s continued east in the Strait. We have not heard any calls other than the A30s in the Strait so we are waiting to see where the various groups end up tonight. So far today we have heard the A30s, A12s, A36s, G17s, I11s and I15s. The I31s were reported east yesterday.
Helena
16 Sep 2005 18:10:08 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We now believe that all the groups except the A30s went back out Weynton Pass and into Queen Charlotte Strait where they continued off to the west. The A30s are sleeping west of CP and the I31s are probably to the east.
Helena
16 Sep 2005 19:29:03 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We are currently listening to the A36s and the I15s making their way back closer to Blackfish Sound after venturing into Queen Charlotte Strait with the I11s, A12s and G17s. Too early to tell whether or not the I11s and G17s were "dropped off" and have continued to the west. As far as we know the A30s remained behind in the Strait and were last seen a few hours ago resting off of Blinkhorn.
Helena
16 Sep 2005 21:08:10 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

It sounds like the A12s are at the "top" of Blackfish Sound, along with the A36s & I15s. We also heard the A30s in Johnstone Strait a while ago. With the moon shining on a calm ocean, this is shaping up to be a lovely night.
Paul
16 Sep 2005 22:47:31 PDT

15 September Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

The A12s and I15s just traveled North through Blackney Pass, we were hearing GI calls on Flower Island before this so perhaps they were going to meet someone. We are not sure what happened to the A30s yet.
Julie @ OL
15 Sep 2005 07:28:53 PDT

Orcas near mics.

We are listening to the A30s on CP right now. The I15s and A12s and possibly some others are spread out from Bold Head to Stubbs Island. We are waiting to find out which way they are headed.
Mary@OL
15 Sep 2005 09:13:07 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We've got orcas everywhere this morning. The A30s are still hanging out off CP. They are calling occasionally. Up in Blackfish Sound, the A36s, A12s, I15s, and G17s are reported to be nearing Donegal Head. The I31s are to the east, way down near Campbell River. The tide is going to reach maximum flood in about an hour, so we are waiting to see if the big group up to the north will turn and head back this way.
Mary@OL
15 Sep 2005 11:23:53 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The large group have entered the strait through Weynton Passage, we are not sure exactly if everyone came in but if they did, the A12s, A36s, I15s and G17s should now be going east along the Vancouver Island shore. The A30s started going east shortly before they came into the strait.
Julie @ OL
15 Sep 2005 14:37:02 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

We have now all the groups in the Strait. Three groups at the Vancouver Island side near Kaikash and the A36´s and some small fins are with them midchannel at little Kaikash...they coming up to CP now...channel A
Paul T. and Melanie @CP
15 Sep 2005 14:52:43 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

Now the I15´s and maybe the G17´s are in the East of Johnstone Strait, going still east near the Vancouver Island side. The A12´s are now in Blackney Pass after foraging in the Gap. The A36´s are still near CP. Channel A
Paul T and Melanie @CP
15 Sep 2005 16:01:48 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The I15´s and maybe the G17´s are in the Bight now. We can here them close to the Crpt Hydrophone. The A36´s are in Blackney and the A12´s are in Blackfish Sound.
Paul T. and Melanie @CP
15 Sep 2005 16:46:43 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A36s are calling on Flower Island again. They sound as if they may have turned back towards us. After a quick rub, all is quiet in the Strait. We will have to wait and see where the I15s, G17s, and A30s ended up.
Mary@OL
15 Sep 2005 18:15:52 PDT

09 September Orcalab reports:

18:02 PDT Orcas near mics.
CP reports that the A30s turned up offshore of Cracroft Point. It is still pretty blowy in the Strait but right now there are dolphins? porpoises? in the waves. Also we briefly heard G clan calls off Critical Point.

20:58 PDT Distant calls audible.
We had a bit of a surprise when a large group od whales suddenly went past CP to the west. They were silent. Our guess is that the Gclan calls we heard briefly earlier were from part of these whales coming west from the Bight area. Perhaps when the very large group of 60 whales that were around two days split into two groups, some going east and others out to the west. Unfortunately they did not leave a clear acoustic trail and we don't know who went where exactly. From the few calls this afternoon we think that maybe the G17s stayed & went east and wonder if the I15s were with them because they had been so friendly that previous morning. Oh well, perhaps the picture will get clearer eventually. Lovely moon tonight - glad to have it back!

23:15 PDT Orcas near mics.
The A36s and someone from the G clan are travelling south through Blackney Pass!

07 September Orcalab reports:

10:25 PDT Orcas near mics.
Earlier this morning the A30s came out of the east and went west to the entrance of Blackney Pass. After travelling a bit further the west (by the sounds) they may have crossed over closer to the Vancouver Island side and then back past the entrance of Blackney and into the Reserve. We heard them again briefly at the beaches and believe now they turned back to the wesy yet again and are currently somewhere in the Reserve. Yesterday, was an intyeresting day, especially after the A12s and the I11s entered the Strait. In total there were about 60 whales. Although it was difficult to track all their movements we think the A30s, I15s and G17s formed one large group that kept to the same general movements. The A12s and the I11s may have picked up the A11s and the A8s after they came out of the east. And perhaps the A12s.I11s etc went off back to the west while the I15s, G17s and A30s went east. Hopefully today will sort out and confusion or whether this was a reasonable guess as to what happened. Time will tell but we won't be surprised by diffeent realities. Stand by!

13:33 PDT Orcas near mics.
The overall picture is a bit clearer thanks to two reports;Robson Bight Charters reported that the A12s were off Camp Point in the lower Johnstone Strait earlier this morning and Troy Bright reported hearing both Gs and As pass Black Bluff around 4:30am headed to the west. We still don't know if all the Gclan groups left the area. We certainly did not pick up any sounds off the top end of Blackfish during the night. Meanwhile, the A30s turned between Little Kaikash and Blinkhorn around 1pm and are now headed east past CP. Very nice calls regardless of the boat noise.

11:03 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
Ok! So this is exciting. At some point in the night the G17s moved into the Strait. They found the I15s and the A30s and all three groups are off Kaikash Creek at the moment perhaps waiting for the A12s and the I11s who are off Donegal Head slowly coming into the area. Not sure if the A12s and the I11s will take Weynton Pass or come down by the Lab. The A30s, I15s and G17s are being very quiet and we have only heard a few I11 calls on the Flower Island system. The A36s are further west in Queen Charlotte Strait also headed east.

11:30 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
Adding to today's mix, the A11s & A8s, are heading west past Adams River, on the Vancouver Island side of the Strait, and could be approaching the Ecological Reserve in an hour or so. Meanwhile, the I15s, A30s & G17s have turnnd back to the east & are heading for Robson Bight, also close to Vancouver Island.

13:58 PDT Superb sounds!!
Despite the boat noise the day continues to be exciting. There about 60 orcas in the Strait at the moment. They are converging. The I11s and the A12s came in via Blackney (past the Lab). They were all mixed up together, playful and in a hurry. They passed CP (some close) and rushed off to the east and the rest of the waiting groups (the A11s, A8s, A30s, I15s and the G17s). The get together will probably happen offf of the Cliff and Robson Bight. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off.

15:17 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
Whales have reached the Beaches.

15:21 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
It sounds like the G17s got there first.