We start this day with the A24s once again heard on the Parson Island system, in the entrance to Blackney Pass. They soon moved into the Pass followed by the I65s. The two groups made their way north and into Blackfish Sound by 1am. We could still hear the A5s in the Strait as well as others from the I15s – most likely the I04s. At 2:30am the A24s and I65s were still vocal in Blackfish Sound but there were only I15s in the Strait by then. Jordan had not heard the A5s since 1am. Had they simply moved away out of range? Had they gone east or west? Time will tell. Regardless, the I4s were still in the Strait lingering, vocal and getting ready to follow the I65s and A24s into Blackfish Sound. By 5:33am they came into view of the Lab and twenty minutes later they were on their way to the west. They would eventually catch up with the A24s and I65s, who all together were reported coming back to the east while off Lizard Point. Alex saw them pass Donegal Head at 11:56am. We did not begin to hear them (specifically the A24s) until 1:38pm. They came into Blackney Pass in good measure at 2:04pm. Once clear of the Pass they headed east, seen first on the Cracroft Point remote camera then later by the Cliff.
By 3:49pm these two groups were passing the western boundary and soon into Robson Bight. At 4:23pm they rounded the eastern headland in the direction of the rubbing beaches beyond. The rub at Strider began 20 minutes later and lasted until 5:18pm.
With the completion of the rub they negotiated a wide turn to the west. Scotty reported them off Cracroft Point very close to the shore. They eluded our search on the remote camera because they had already turned into Blackney Pass by the time we looked. At 7:40pm they were once again heading north toward Blackfish Sound. They were silent until reaching Blackfish Sound where they vocalised for about forty minutes.
Biggs orcas contributed to the busy scene in Johnstone Strait. A group was sighted just outside the Bight by the Cliff just as they set up for the day at 9:08am. They were not given much opportunity to identify these orcas but later the T65Bs were seen off Malcolm Island at Dickenson Point (Sointula) around 2pm and again later off Pultenay Point at 5:54pm.
