A30s foraging west of Blinkhorn

Seasmoke reports
The A30’s were foraging west of Blinkhorn on the VI shore, they were well spread out and close to the shore, their foraging was intense and it was wonderful listening to their A-Clan calls via the hydrophone as they foraged.

A30s traveling with the A5s

Seasmoke reports

Today proved to be a day of wonderful viewing despite the heavy rain! On the morning tour passengers had the experience of sailing with the whales: the A8’s, A23’s and the A30’s and while under sail, by trailing the hydrophone, passengers were able to listen to their wonderful A-Clan vocals as they foraged. On the afternoon sail time was spent with the I12’s, they were also foraging and I47 surprised everyone when surfacing near to the boat, allowing a wonderful and unforgettable sight!

A30s near Malcom Island

Ellen reports:
We rounded Malcolm Point we saw the first Orcas. I was able to id I64 right away and there was an awful lot of familiar tall dorsal fins in there... I had a feeling we had the A36s there. The whales were heading for the beaches at Bere Pt and we witnessed a short rub there, amazing! Lots of socialization, amazing vocals, spyhops, breaches, everything in the orca manual book :) All in all I was positively able to id the A30s, A24s, A23's, A8s, A36s, I11s I hope I didn't miss anyone.
Ellen@Port McNeill
27 Aug 2008 17:20:02 PDT

A30s sighted near Donegal Head, moving east

SEasmoke reports
On the way home, passengers on MV Cetacea enjoyed viewing the A30’s as they made their way east towards Donegal Head on Malcolm Island.

A30s calls audible above the waterline

Seasmoke reports

There were several pods spread out across the strait traveling to the west, foraging along the way: the A30’s, A23’s, A8’s and A25’s. Quality time was spent with the A30’s and the A23’s as they foraged back and forth, their A-Clan calls were clearly audible both above and below the waterline. Hearing their vocals above the water added to the magic of the viewing and delighted everyone on board. When the orcas turned and headed back to the east towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve some social behaviour was observed and included spyhopping, tail slapping and pectoral slapping which was intriguing to watch.

A30s traveling west in JS and went east in the afternoon

Seasmoke reports

There were several pods spread out across the strait traveling to the west, foraging along the way: the A30’s, A23’s, A8’s and A25’s. Quality time was spent with the A30’s and the A23’s as they foraged back and forth, their A-Clan calls were clearly audible both above and below the waterline.
When the orcas turned and headed back to the east towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve some social behaviour was observed and included spyhopping, tail slapping and pectoral slapping which was intriguing to watch.

A30s with A8s and A24s on transit

Seasmoke reports

There were many orcas to be seen in Johnstone Strait this morning, several pods were in transit, the A12’s, A30’s, A8’s and A24’s.

A30s foraging at Beaver Cove

Seasmoke reports

On the afternoon tour, it was surprising to find the A30’s foraging at Beaver Cove shortly after departing from Alder Bay. Even though rain was falling gently, the sightings of the 9 orcas and the sounds of their A-Clan vocalizations as they foraged were superb! Passengers enjoyed some wonderful viewing, especially of A38 and A30 as they passed nearby the boat as it sat idle and drifting; foraging and traveling behaviour was observed when the pod made their turn back to the east and we left them at Blinkhorn.

A30s with I31s in Blackfish Sound

We are so sorry that the live audio is still not working.But the internet is still on and off. A short update. The A12´s, all A5´s and the A24´s are in the bight, close to the hydrophone we can hear A12calls. A55, A62, A67 and A83 were a bit far off the others. All going east. We had a report of the A36´s coming up from the east. So maybe they join the others soon. This morning we had the A30´s with the I31´s in Blackfish Sound, after the A30´s went out last night they brought the I31´s back in. But they went already out again to the west.
Melanie
15 Aug 2008 15:42:25 PDT

A30s with A12s, A5s and A4s heading east

Orcalab reports:

Just try to give you an update. Our connection is still on and off. We had the A30s, A36s, A12s and A11s yesterday joining the A5s and A24s in Johnstone Strait. The A36s and A12s went far to the east. Today we have the A12s, A30s, A5s and A24s in the strait, going back and forth. The A11s went out yesterday evening. We saw the new calf of A35 and A64. They looking great. It's so good to see new babys. Now somebody is rubbing without calling. The rest is still in the bight. We had a report that all groups going slowly to the east. Maybe they will pick up the A36s, which were on the way back to the west. Lets see.
Melanie
14 Aug 2008 18:40:25 PDT

A30s with A24s in Weynton Passage

Seasmoke reports:

Today has to be one of the best days of the season with many pods of orcas being present in Johnstone Strait. Because the pods were so spread out it was not possible to see them all. Time was spent viewing the A30’s and A24’s and on the way home, up in Weynton Passage, the A11’s were sighted. The lighting was glorious with the sun shining on them as they lay resting on the surface of the water, as well, there were multiple spy-hops observed which delighted everyone on board.Stubbs whale watching reports:
This morning the fog added to the magic when the sun finally came through. We found the killer whales mostly by listening with the hydrophone and their blows. The orcas would appear and then disappear in the mist It was amazing! The whales led us out of the fog and we observe interaction between the orca's and Dall's porpoise. we even observed behaviour that may have been nursing under water with A54 and her youngest calf.

In the afternoon the sun shone and it was fabulous, it was the first time this season our naturalists were able to go without their jackets. On the way down Johnstone Strait we had the most incredible bow-riding Pacific white-sided dolphins. They were porpoising and riding in the wake of the boat. We then encountered the A30's; A23's; and possibly the A8's. On our way back up Blackfish Sound we found the A11's in Weynton Pass.

A1s all together at Malcolm Island

Seasmoke reports:

The A36’s were sighted at the top end of Malcolm Island, they were foraging and then turned east with other incoming pods who were also sighted close-by, the A30’s and the A12’s. All pods were moving steadily eastbound.
Spy-hopping, tail slapping and breaching was observed. On the afternoon tour, passengers aboard the SV Tuan were delighted to view the same incoming pods as they headed east from Lizard Point, foraging and resting behavior was observed, some resting calls were heard via the hydrophone.

A30s near Robson Bight

Seasmoke reports

Orcas were reported east bound in the fog bank on the VI shore, passing into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve and hidden in the fog. Crossing Blakney Passage and nearing Cracroft Point on the other shore, a curtain of fog lifted revealing a very large dorsal fin and other smaller fins in the distance. What a surprise for the excited guests on board catching their first glimpse of orcas! A38 was foraging suddenly nearby, followed by A39, both of them proceeding a little further west foraging. The rest of the A30’s who had been foraging formed a resting line and began making their way very slowly, crossing the strait towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. A39 who had made his way more centre strait turned, as did A38 and both began moving east in the direction of their family.

Seasmoke reports:

The pods seen today were the same as yesterday, all of the A5’s and the A30’s. It is reassuring to see that their travel to the far east (traveling great distances) in search of food has changed in recent days and they are spending more time in the western part of Johnstone Strait, foraging in the area from the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve up to Turn Point or further west to the Stephenson Islands and Beaver Cove, then turning back to the east. On our tours today they were observed to be foraging most of the time, in their family groups, well spread out across the strait. Some half breaches, resting, a spyhop and some playful interaction between siblings were also observed.

A30s in Blackfish Sound

Seasmoke reports

The A30’s were sighted heading in from Bold Head. It was exciting viewing. A39 was sighted followed by the A54’s and a single Pacific White-sided Dolphin who was swimming with them. The A50’s foraged near to the boat delighting passengers; the two calves played on the surface for a time and it was interesting to hear a single call on the hydrophone and watch as the two calves raced after their mother. A 38 was also seen at a distance where the small nick near the top of his dorsal fin could be seen by binoculars.

A30s heading west from the Ecological Reserve

When the SV Tuan headed out on tour this afternoon there were reports of orcas heading east at the east end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve (A30’s, A23’s, A8’s) and orcas heading west, west of Lizard Point (A12’s). We began by heading west but when a report came in that some of the pods had turned back to the west at the east end of the reserve, we headed in that direction. The heavy flood current had us make our way swiftly down Blackfish Sound and we were soon in Johnstone Strait where blows and the dorsal fins of the orcas could be seen heading in our direction. A large dorsal fin was sighted nearby, identified as A38 (oldest surviving son of A30 from the A30 pod). He was separate from his family who were much further east in Johnstone Strait, he was observed foraging intensely, moving back and forth. The A8’s were also foraging steadily along the Cracroft shore, turning back at times to forage then moving west against the flood current, taking long dives. One lucky passenger managed to snap a wonderful photo when one of the orcas spy-hopped, delighting everyone. A few dall’s porpoises were observed to be traveling with the A8’s as they crossed Blakney Passage in the heavy flood current.

A30s foraging in JS

Seasmoke reports
As we neared the approaching orcas on the VI shore, the engine was cut and the hydrophone deployed. Several small groups were observed foraging close to the shore but in the shaded waters it was not easy to identify them. The A30’s were present and some other pods, possibly G-Clan pod(s), G-Clan calls were heard, as well as A-Clan calls. The A30’s were superb! Foraging further out from the shore they were clearly visible and passengers had some memorable moments when they turned to travel back to the east passing nearby. A few more delightful moments were spent watching A73 (Bend) stopping near-by to nudge up to and against a log as though in play. The orcas were seen to be foraging intensively, and passengers watched as A30 foraged back and forth, A38 also foraged nearby with his mother.