19 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

Just now we have been listening to A1 calls (the A30s) in Johnstone Strait near Robson Bight. Last night was a bit of a puzzle. Groups (the A30s, I15s, G and I31s definitely came out of the east and headed for Cracroft Point and the entrance to Blackney Pass. For a time it sounded like some of the whales entered Blackney Pass. This is when it became confusing. It was not clear if whales went all the way through Blackney Passor returned to the Strait. The A30s and the I15s stayed in the Strait.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 07:21:17 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The plot thickens. The A12s are in Blackfish Sound! The A30s are in the Strait.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 07:53:05 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

The A30s headed east to the rubbing beaches where they are right now. The A12s are still in Blackfish Sound but seem to be steadily getting more distant. Where is everyone else?
Helena
19 Sep 2006 08:56:07 PDT

Orcas hunting fish.

Just recently: very close echo location in the Bight. Is this the A30s coming back west again after their brief rub? We have not heard the A12s in Blackfish Sound for a while.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 09:42:19 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A30s are slowly making their way west from Robson Bight and toward CP. Meanwhile, most of last night's mystery has been solved. It appears that the G clan "Crowd" did move out to the west last night. We suspect now that some took Blackney Pass while others Weynton Pass to reach Blackfish Sound and Queen Charlotte Strait beyond. They are currently spread out from Lizard Point back to Malcolm Point. They have been joined by the A36s. Did the A36s have anyone new with them? The map right now is not entirely accurate but it helps show the locations that the whales are near.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 12:24:03 PDT

No orcas present.

Hi, power was down in Alert Bay so it was difficult to post coments. A lot happened today. The "Crowd" (the A12s and G clan) moved off to the west this afternoon. As they did so two other events occured. The A30s moved to the west, got just past Big Bay and then turned around and went back to the east past Critical Point and a group of 6 transients moved into Blackfish Sound and east to the Strait. These were ( thanks to Jared Towers for the IDs) the T60s, T124C and T2B. T2B has a new calf and Jared informs us that the calf is less than 20 days old because he saw T2B without a calf that long ago. This is rather exciting! Right now all is quiet, whales dispersing in all sorts of different directions.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 19:49:42 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We think the A30s may have gone north through Blackney Pass.
Helena
19 Sep 2006 20:55:12 PDT