23 August Orcalab reports:


07:01 PDT Superb sounds!!
Good morning everyone! After as busy night, during which the I15s, A30s & A36s came back into Johnstone Strait on the flooding tide, we're hearing echolocation and I15 calls close to the Critical Point hydrophone. "A" calls are there too, so we think all 3 groups are probably still together, now in Robson Bight. There is no boat noise, so we're sent an alert.

08:24 PDT Distant calls audible.
The calls have become distant on the Critical Point hydrophone. We think the orcas (I15s, A30s) are moving to the west in Johnstone Strait.

09:57 PDT Orcas near mics.
The calls are getting close to the Critical Point hydrophone again... sounds like the I15s & A30s have turned back to the east & are now in Robson Bight again.

11:30 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
The whales are still westbound and are now opposite the Sophia Islands favouring the cracroft shoreline.

13:28 PDT Distant calls audible.
The A36s are travelling north through Blackney Pass while the i15s and the A30s are moving west along Vancouver Island.

15:48 PDT Superb sounds!!
The lovely chorus we've been listening to for the last while is coming from the A30s & I15s via the Critical Point hydrophone... they are in Robson Bight. We're also hearing the A36s, occasionally, in Blackfish Sound.

16:36 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
A 39 is having a rub by himself. Others may follow. Channel B.

18:00 PDT No calls but orcas nearby
it looks like the rub is over and the A30s are headed back to the west in search of the I15s perhaps. Next stop Critical Point.

20:12 PDT Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.
The A30s are approaching CP along the Cracroft Island shore, they are filming Channel A.

21:48 PDT Distant calls audible.
The I15s & A30s remain in the Strait. the A30s passed CP fairly closely on their way to the sunset. the I15s, a little bit slower, followed closer to the Vancouver Island shore.

22:17 PDT Orcas near mics.
The I15s & A30s are close to CP - we're not sure if they will head north through Blackney Pass on the ebbing tide, as they did last night, but they might.