06 September Orcalab reports

09:01 PDT Boat noise
Good morning everyone... it's another lovely morning here! At the moment, we're only hearing boat noise, but around 7am we began to hear distant I15 & "A" calls on the Critical Point hydrophone. We've heard occasional calls since then, but boat noise has been persistent too. We're not sure where the orcas are at the moment, but they're probably not far from Robson Bight.

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.

Superb sounds!!
The I15s are now at the beaches taking a turn.

16:53 PDT Superb sounds!!
The a11s have gone into the Main beach as well. The A30s were heard on Critical Point just before this.

17:15 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
We're mostly back to boat noise, but among the many groups in Johnstone Strait today, the A30s are near the Critical Point hydrophone, so we can hear them!

18:30 PDT Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.
The westward moving groups are passing CP now.