The A42's have headed Northwest to Weynton Passage. Than were sighted at Donegal Head and Stubbs Island. Reports via our visual outpost and others in the area. Very faint, very distant calls are now heard on Flower Island. There has been much boat activity over the last 1.5 hours. The sea is quite choppy. Ellie 20 Jul 2018 16:32:52 PDT The A42's have headed Northwest to Weynton Passage. Than were sighted at Donegal Head and Stubbs Island. Reports via our visual outpost and others in the area. Very faint, very distant calls are now heard on Flower Island. There has been much boat activity over the last 1.5 hours. The sea is quite choppy. Ellie 20 Jul 2018 16:32:44 PDT Distant calls audible. Orca calls increasing at CP! Orcalab 20 Jul 2018 13:04:53 PDT 6 orcas slowly heading south through Blackney Pass. Closely followed by 6 whale watching boats and 10 kayaks. No calls. We are thinking they may be the A42's and wish them well on their way! Orcalab 20 Jul 2018 13:03:47 PDT No calls but orcas nearby A66 at Rubbing beach Orcalab 19 Jul 2018 16:58:06 PDT Superb sounds!! Well surprise! (can deal with that) The A42s just went past the Lab mid channel. They were silent until they got to the "corner" and then began to call as they spread out and began the eastward journey in the Strait. Lovely. We followed them on the various cameras so you can scroll back and watch them too. http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-base OrcaLab 19 Jul 2018 15:28:11 PDT 6 orcas slowly heading south through Blackney Pass. Closely followed by 6 whale watching boats and 10 kayaks. No calls. We are thinking they may be the A42's and wish them well on their way! Orcalab 19 Jul 2018 14:54:38 PDT The A23's have been sighted at the Cliff. Moving west along the Cracroft shore towards Critical Point! Now heading north through Blackney Pass. A109 is amongst them. No calls. OrcaLab 18 Jul 2018 14:29:06 PDT No calls but orcas nearby We lost the earlier group around 6.30pm and heard no calls until 20.12 when the A30s came into Blackfish Sound. They were heard briefly on lower left and just made it into sight from the lab. We're still hearing infrequent calls from them on Flower Island. Emma 18 Jul 2018 13:48:22 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Probably it is a good idea to do a summary of July 16th. There was a lot of movement, some close, some far away. At midnight on the 16th the situation was that the large group of G clan whales ( the I31s, G17s and a small I15 group - possibly the I4s) were still together after travelling together with the A4 group (possibly the A24s) from Johnstone Strait, through Weynton Passage to Blackfish Sound. They were on their way out but did not entirely disappear to the west before the A30s and A5s (A23s/25s) came round via Weynton as well and joined them. There was a regroup of sorts (perhaps a “see you later”moment) that resolved itself with the A30s and the A5s returning to Blackney Pass and the others carrying on into Queen Charlotte Strait. As the A30s and the A5s moved closer to Johnstone Strait they were joined by a fairly big group of dolphins (judging from the vocals) in the entrance to Blackney Pass. The orcas continued east in the Strait and we lost track of them around 3:25am and did not become aware of them again until just before 6am when they approached Cracroft Point and Blackney Pass again. The A30s were in the lead followed by the A25s. In that order these groups came into Blackney Pass and headed north between 6:17am and 6:49am. There were still dolphins surrounding some of the A30s. They were moving fairly quickly and their calls faded off by 7:17am as they continued into Queen Charlotte Strait. The A23s followed the same route from 8:04am to 8:14am and their calls lasted from 9:42 to 9:46am while they were in Blackfish Sound. Ridge, the humpback, was in Blackney at this time. Troy Bright saw the A30s and A25s off Bere Point moving toward Malcolm Point at 12:38pm. So what happened to the A23s? They may not have gone too far and certainly did not follow the A30s and the A25s for very long. We have noticed this year that the A25s are more independent of the A23s and we have speculated several reasons why this might be happening. Around 3pm (3:10) a small group (unidentified) was seen heading east along Vancouver Island east of Kaikash Creek. An hour and half later (4:34pm) Kate Brauer saw the A54s (A30s) go east past Bere Point. She suspected there were more orcas as well. Much later at 6:16pm our cameras at the rubbing beach detected a small group go in for a rub. It was suspected that this was the A23s and that they continued east afterwards. It had been a busy town run day and the boat made it back to OrcaLab, loaded with supplies and people, around this time. Probably not long after the boat had left Telegraph Cove, Hanson Island bound, the T46s (identified by Jared Towers, were seen heading east from the Wastells (not far from Telegraph Cove). By the time the boat was unloaded and supplies distributed, the guests (Paul’s son Yasha and his family) settled, and the final dinner preparations were completed, the A30s and the A25s had made it back to Blackfish Sound. It seemed like the A30s wanted to come into Blackney and they briefly appeared in our view at 9:23pm. The tide was still ebbing so this may have influenced their decision to wait until after midnight when the tide was more in their favour. The two groups, the A30s and the A25s, made the journey to Johnstone Strait at 1am (July 17th). They returned and travelled north at 6am. Still no sign of the A23s. Helena 17 Jul 2018 09:14:36 PDT No calls but orcas nearby We lost the earlier group around 6.30pm and heard no calls until 20.12 when the A30s came into Blackfish Sound. They were heard briefly on lower left and just made it into sight from the lab. We're still hearing infrequent calls from them on Flower Island. Emma 16 Jul 2018 23:21:46 PDT We have orcas on the surface cameras by the rubbing beach! Spyhops and tail slaps! Hopefully they're heading to the main rubbing beach so keep your eye on the underwater camera Janie & Emma 16 Jul 2018 18:18:53 PDT No calls but orcas nearby It is a quiet afternoon. The last calls we heard were at 9:46am from Blackfish Sound. The calls were from the A5s. We have a group of orcas on CP cam. They're heading east and approaching Kaikash Beach on Vancouver shoreline. It seems like they entered the Strait via Weynton Pass. We are waiting for them to speak up! http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-cracroft-point-surface Momoko & Megan 16 Jul 2018 15:30:41 PDT Distant calls audible. We started hearing A5 calls again from Blackfish Sound. Momoko & Luke 16 Jul 2018 09:54:53 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Megan spotted the A23s. They passed Blackney Pass silently and cleared into Blackfish Sound at 8:14am. Momoko 16 Jul 2018 08:30:23 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The last calls we heard last night was at 3:25am from the Strait. We started hearing the A30s again at 5:57am this morning. They were at the entrance of Blackney Pass and slowly heading into Blackney Pass. They came into our view around 6:24am and were surrounded by dolphins. Meanwhile A61 was off CP and following the A30s. He came into our view around 6:45am. All of them cleared into Blackfish Sound at 6:59am. It sounded like there was some foraging going on off Flower Island. They have been quiet now. Momoko 16 Jul 2018 07:39:15 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Everyone of the groups who had been in the Strait today (A30s, the A5 group, the A4 group, the I31s the I15 group and G17s) all ended up heading west through Weynton Pass to Blackfish Sound. After a regroup the A30s headed back east and then south through Blackney Pass to Johnstone Strait once again. They were met by a group of dolphins in the entrance way to Blackney Pass. Helena 16 Jul 2018 02:51:15 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Finally the A5s turned up, following everyone else to the west but still in Johnstone Strait. We are waiting for the A30s to perhaps come around through Weynton Pass where the "G" clan groups are still very vocal off Blackfish Sound. Helena 15 Jul 2018 21:30:43 PDT Distant calls audible. As we wait to see what happens to the A30s (they are west bound in the Strait past CP and the entrance to Blackney Pass) the G clan whales and possibly the A4 group as well have come through Weynton Pass and are crossing the top end of Blackfish Sound. Still have not heard the A5s. Helena 15 Jul 2018 20:46:42 PDT Orcas near mics. Things have been developing. It has been frustrating trying to locate the spread out orca groups. The afternoon glare did not help. We heard the A4 group, the I15s.I31s as they continued to move back and forth eventually nearer Cracroft Point after their journey westward early this afternoon. And just recently the A30s came from the east and into the Bight and now there is a pretty vigorous exchange going on. http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-robson-bight Helena 15 Jul 2018 18:11:59 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. The groups from early this morning are making their way back to the west spread out across the Strait. Some ventured into the Rubbing beaches, some are travelling along closer to the Cracroft Island side. A few vocals. Orcalab 15 Jul 2018 14:07:31 PDT No orcas present. There was a report that a large group of orcas headed east from the eastern boundary of the reserve at 4:15am. We have Humpbacks and Minke whale as company this morning. It is windy but another beautiful day! Momoko 15 Jul 2018 12:37:15 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Now they are near Robson Bight, heading east in Johnstone Strait. Momoko 15 Jul 2018 02:54:59 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. They made it to Blackney Pass and under a very starry sky they are making their way to Johnstone Strait. Lovely calls! Momoko & Helena 15 Jul 2018 01:50:13 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Yup, we have heard calls typical of all those groups (the A30s,A25s,A23s,A24s,I35s,I68s, I4s, G17s) Jared Towers found earlier today in Queen Charlotte Strait. They have either become silent or they are making their way through Weynton Pass now headed to Johnstone Strait. Tide about to turn to flood. OrcaLab 15 Jul 2018 00:35:13 PDT Distant calls audible. We are beginning to hear calls off Blackfish Sound. Perhaps some or all of the whales seen in Queen Charlotte Strait today by Jared Towers are making their way into this area. Troy Bright saw a large group pass Bere Point around 9:30pm on their way to Lizard Point. Seen to day are the A30s, A23s,A25s, A24s, I35s,I68s,I4s and the G17s. That is a very big group! It may be a busy night. Helena 14 Jul 2018 23:39:46 PDT No orcas present. There was another post script to the day. Later, we heard what we think was the A23s man it back to Johnstone Strait. They were vocal for a brief while. OrcaLab 14 Jul 2018 06:18:35 PDT Distant calls audible. Post Script: The A23s took up the rear and just came through Blackney Pass following the path of the others headed north into Blackfish Sound. Helena 13 Jul 2018 19:39:38 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Having difficulty keeping up. The whales turned and rushed up the Strait against the last of the flood - didn't seem to bother them. They got to the entrance of Blackney Pass ahead of the slack and took it into the Pass and then enjoyed the ebb flow to reach Blackfish Sound. Heard everyone except the A4s on this go round. We are checking our pictures though. Helena 13 Jul 2018 18:45:03 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. Time to catchup on this Springer anniversary. As we were going over Springer's reintroduction 16 years ago, the A30s, G17s, A5s and that small A4 group (?Springer herself) came rushing through Blackney Pass toward Johnston Strait. They carried on eastward for the most part but occasionally stalled, turned west. The A5s sound the closest to Robson Bight - wondering just what is up? Did they find the A23s or head Kazumi Beach for a rub, or find fish or what?. The ocean is pretty exercised right now with a strong northwest wind in action. Very hard to pick out the distant whales - better to listen! Orcalab 13 Jul 2018 16:28:39 PDT No orcas present. Sometimes life happens very fast! After a brief rub at the Main beach the orcas turned and scooted back to the west and through Blackney Pass to Blackfish Sound. It was the same gross who had come through at 2am and headed east in the Strait, the A30s, the A4 group (possibly Springer), the A25s and the G17s. This was pretty much the same groups Jared Towers saw on July 10 off Hardy Bay with the addition of the small A4 group. OrcaLab 13 Jul 2018 10:00:15 PDT Multiple pod calls audible. What a morning! They made it to Robson Bight in the ebbing tide and went to the east. The A30s were the closest to the camera. Some of them enjoyed a morning rub. Then they turned to the west around 6:09am. Now they are heading west from Robson Bight. Rewind about one hour to see them rubbing. https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-rubbing-beach-underwater Orcalab 13 Jul 2018 07:09:07 PDT Superb sounds!! Fairly sure the A25s, A4s, G17s and the A30s have all made it to Johnstone Strait now. We tracked the groups through Blackney and they are just emerging int the Strait now. Not sure yet if the A23s are included. There is going to be a big ebbing tide turn in a short while so we will see how far they all get. Exciting though to hear the two clans the same time again. Helena 13 Jul 2018 03:57:33 PDT Superb sounds!! We are about to get some boar noise from a passing tug but the A30s are getting closer and approaching Blackney Pass. There have been A5 and possibly A4 as well and just now G17s too! Orcalab 13 Jul 2018 03:13:54 PDT We do believe the patient A23s have company! We have been listening to orcas approaching Blackfish Sound since 1:54am. More in a it when they get closer. Orcalab 13 Jul 2018 02:39:02 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom. Fife has been at the Rubbing beach. We saw him underwater so you can scroll back and see his slow Pass- beautiful. Go to explore.org and locate the underwater view on the Orcalab page- worth the look! Orcalab 12 Jul 2018 15:10:47 PDT Superb sounds!! Sounds like the A23s made their way to Robson Bight. Orcalab 12 Jul 2018 00:54:29 PDT No calls but orcas nearby The A23s came silently into Blackney Pass and almost got all the way through to Blackfish before even urging around and heading back south. They even-came closer to our side. https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base Orcalab 11 Jul 2018 21:09:05 PDT Orcas near mics. Nope, no rub at the Main beach but they did so at Strider. Since then the A23s have turned back west and are moving through Robson Bight. https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-robson-bight OrcaLab 11 Jul 2018 10:43:38 PDT Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom. Just before 9am we got word from the Robson Bight Wardens that the A23s were in the Reserve and later that they were headed to Strider rubbing beach. We are watching on the rubbing beach camera at the Main beach and have seen just one orcas so far. https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-rubbing-beach Orcalab 11 Jul 2018 09:49:49 PDT Orcas near mics. Dessert had been served, it was a late supper. Two humpbacks swimming in tandem surfaced just to the right of the Lab, just feet from shore. The light was fading (10-10:30 pm) as they followed their path into the little bay to the left of the Lab. They made some lunge feeding attempts, came out a ways and moved on to the local left headland. Splashed and pec waving followed before they moved on into Blackfish Sound . Just now the A23s finally found their voices somewhere near Robson Bight. All in a summer's day! Helena 11 Jul 2018 00:19:56 PDT No calls but orcas nearby I do apologize !!! Maybe it was because they were silent while in Johnstone Strait, maybe because we are distracted at the moment but I forgot to inform everyone what has been happening. The A23s came back! They headed through WeyntonPass. We did get a message at 7:05am that there were orcas off Black Bluff in Queen Charlotte Strait but it got very busy here for other reasons. We even had the hydrophone turned down until just after they reached Johnstone Strait (maybe they hadn't been so quiet after all). But as they progressed east they made no calls even when rounding Critical Point to head for the beaches. They went to Strider and only sniffed at the Main beach then turned west. We are waiting for them on the Robson Bight camera once again. www.explore.org Helena 10 Jul 2018 17:47:29 PDT Superb sounds!! The A30s have finally made it in, right now just about to head to Johnstone Strait. Lovely calls, www.orca-live.net Orcalab 09 Jul 2018 15:17:05 PDT Distant calls audible. The A30s after passing the entrance o Blackney Pass continued west in Johnstone Strait and eventually headed into Beaver Cove where they stayed for an extended time. After leaving Beaver Cove they crossed to Weynton Pass and travelled through to Blackfish Sound. They are quite vocal which is a contrast to their morning silent travels up the Strait. Orcalab 09 Jul 2018 15:16:50 PDT No calls but orcas nearby A30s headed to Cracroft Point - www.explore.org Orcalab 09 Jul 2018 09:58:24 PDT Superb sounds!! The A30s have finally made it in, right now just about to head to Johnstone Strait. Lovely calls, www.orca-live.net Orcalab 08 Jul 2018 22:31:01 PDT Calls on FI. The orcas have been vocal for much of the last hour. After fading for about 20 mins., we can again hear them on Flower Island. Amalie & Ellie 08 Jul 2018 19:33:23 PDT Superb sounds!! Orcas on Flower Island. Early in the morning. 4:53 AM Clear calls that faded after a short amount of time. Ellie 08 Jul 2018 05:29:29 PDT Orcas near mics. The A30s are back in Blackfish Sound. There have been quite close dolphins in Robson Bight as well. OrcaLab 08 Jul 2018 00:12:54 PDT No orcas present. This evening the A30s came through Weynton Pass after travelling west in Johnstone Strait. The last faint calls we heard were at 6:23pm. We assume they carried on to Queen Charlotte Strait. I forgot to mention earlier that the Naiad Explorer found and followed a small group of Bigg's orcas toward Alert Bay today. This group passed Alert Bay to the west around 12:30pm. OrcaLab 07 Jul 2018 22:21:03 PDT