It was 3am before the day began. Tomoko identified both A30 and A5 calls. The calls were from the eastern end of the Ecological Reserve. From there they seemed to slip further east and for a while out of hydrophone range.
By 7am, A62 calls indicated that groups were on their way back. By 7:30am, the A62s were passing (no rub) Strider Rubbing Beach. By 9:26am orcas came into view of the Critical Point remote video camera. As time advanced, so did the whales. By now A4 calls were also heard.
As part of the general movement to the west a brief rub occurred at 11:43am.
Dylan, over on Vancouver Island’s west side, near Bamfield, reported that another crew, further afield in American waters, had found the D11, I35s, I68s and some of the I40s – all Northern Residents. It is not unusual for the Northern Residents to use the west coast of the Island.
Back in Johnstone Strait, a group of orcas were nearing the Sophia island around 1:15pm. Within the half hour they were visible on the Cracroft Point remote camera. This would turn out to be the A50s and A52s who had come along the Cracroft Island side from the east. By 2:30pm, they were heading north through Blackney Pass as a single, mixed group. Once through, and out of view of the Lab, Olivia watched from Donegal Head as they shifted directions, finally making it to the far side of Queen Charlotte Strait and continuing northwest.
It would not be until 5pm before the A62s likewise left Johnstone Strait and went north through Blackney Pass. However, they did not follow the A50s and A52s to Queen Charlotte Strait, but instead were joined with the A54s and stayed in Blackfish Sound for the time being. The Lab had not seen the A54s pass so their passage to Blackfish Sound may have been via Weynton Pass, if not Blackney.
Regardless, both groups returned to Blackney Pass at 8:43pm. A54 came in first accompanied by three of her offspring. They travelled slowly mid channel in a fairly close group. The rest of the family followed a short distance behind in company with the A62s.
Jared Towers earlier confirmed that A54’s oldest daughter, A75 and her youngest, A138 are gone. A75 looked poorly all last season so it was not unexpected and the little one probably didn’t survive long without her. Jared assured everyone the rest of A75’s offspring, A101, A113, and A127 were faring well.
The A54s and A62s re-entered Johnstone Strait for the evening.
