Quite often with whales, one day spills into the next. Very late on the 15th the A42s with A94 went for a rub at Strider on their way to the east. The rub did not finish until just after midnight on the 16th. Orca Camp, just east of the Reserve, heard their blows as they passed eastward at 12:30am. They would spend the rest of the night out of range Probably not going too, too far away they returned to the same area around 6:40am. They went for a lovely rub in the foggy morning starting at 7:23am and ending at 7:52am. The rub probably involved everyone from the group but five made several back and forth passes over the pebbles.
From Strider they followed the Vancouver Island shore to the west, past Critical Point and Robson Bight (8:04am), past Kaikash (9:54am) and into Weynton Pass by 1pm. Not sure if it is the influence of the presence of the young baby or whether the group is just feeling the relaxation of summer days but the A42s with A94 never seem in a hurry these days.
Paul on his way back from Telegraph Cove after picking up Anna’s family had to stop his engine as the group passed. A42 stopped not far from the boat and floated for 5 minutes. They eventually moved on and Paul resumed the journey back to Hanson Island.
The A42 group passed Donegal Head just before 3pm. Their lingering only brought them a little further west before they were reported to have turned around 7:20pm.
From there it was a slow roll into Blackfish and Blackney Pass. They made it interesting once again. As they ventured into Blackney Pass a humpback was resting opposite the Lab and the Parson Island Light. The A42 group (actually travelling mid channel in two small groupings) had been calling and echolocating during their travel and they continued to do so. When they passed the humpback it caused a reaction. The humpback repeatedly breached and tail/ pec slapped. By 11:36pm the orca blows were now around the south edge of Parson Island. The humpback chimed in with a few sounds of its own in the same locale as it followed.
The orcas ended with a few calls as they neared Johnstone Strait as the 16th slipped into the 17th. Seamless days!
