A30s with A24s, A36s and A5s

Orcas near mics.

The A36s, who came into Johnstone Strait at 4am, are off Critical Point after travelling eastward in Johnstone Strait. The others, the A30s,A24s,and A5s with A12 following them continued east last night.
Helena
05 Aug 2009 08:33:00 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

A little bit of rubbing and a lot of distant calls as the A30s, A24s, A5s head west. Some groups are going through the Ecologial Reserve while others travelling opposite to the Cracroft shore. The A36s probably turned west in advance of the arriving groups and were first back to Robson Bight. After which it was one of the A5 group's turn.
Helena
05 Aug 2009 13:09:07 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The groups (the A36s, A24s,A5s and the A30s) continued west past CP. A32 and A37 came back to forage off of CP. The mood out there is still very social;spyhops, rolling around, breaches, tail slaps and very mixed groups. Lots of boat noise is the only thing which spoils the fun.
Helena
05 Aug 2009 16:42:52 PDT

Superb sounds!!

Sounds like there's a party in the Bight tonight!
Helena
05 Aug 2009 19:53:45 PDT

Superb sounds!!

After the briefest of rubs, the groups have begun a westward trek again, rounding Critical Point with amazing sounds
Helena
05 Aug 2009 21:55:41 PDT

Seasmoke reports
On the afternoon tour the orcas who had been to the east were returning back to the west at a very rapid rate. It was near Kaikash Beach that we suddenly saw a pod of orcas approaching, moving quickly and very close along the Vancouver Island shore, mothers and their calves. Stopping to deploy the hydrophone it was exciting to hear their A-Clan calls. Scanning across the Strait numerous orcas could be seen in all directions, it was an amazing sight, they were so spread out. The pods were the same as yesterday: A30’s, A5’s, A24’s and A36’s. As the lead groups neared the Bauza Islets they slowed, some were observed resting and foraging while others socialized. The viewing was superb as was the lighting. Just when passengers thought that it could not get any better it did. We had been observing A39 who was foraging alone mid Strait well ahead of us and we had stopped to watch his foraging tactics when suddenly he turned back and then towards us, circling around the entire boat. It was breathtaking and beautiful to see this orca under the water, so large and floating free! It was like magic, over in a moment yet somewhere in all of our minds eye, that powerful image remains vivid. Looking back we could see that the orcas had turned back east and we ourselves were headed home.