This day was mostly about keeping track from a distance because the groups started leaving the area starting around 3am when calls were heard in Blackfish Sound. The A62s were heard in Blackfish Sound between 5:30 and 5:45am. Next and possibly the last group went by the Lab at 5:47am. In the pre dawn light the orcas were a bit obscured but it was determined this was A34’s group. They were moving fast, a contrast to recent movements. The whales headed into Queen Charlotte Strait. From there, various reports followed their continued progress west.
11:15am: off Bere Point
12:52: off Malcolm Point – Troy figured all the A34s with A34 and A55 moving slowly now closer to Malcolm Island. There was no mention of the A54s. The count was consistently only about 16 (the A34s are 14 strong and the A54s are 11) throughout the day. Perhaps the A54s were ahead at some distance from the others and just not seen.
1:21pm: the whales were 3 miles offshore and stalled in the distance from Troy
3:41Pm: opposite Numas Island mid Queen Charlotte Strait and still going west
Back at 10:43am in Blackney Pass there was a Minke Whale reported and later Katie was convinced she heard its blow at 11:28am. A few Steller Sea Lions continued to haul out on the rocks adjacent to the Parson Island Light opposite the Lab. Their growls were heard clear across the water.
We got word via Killer Whales of BC that on July 25 that the three A25s (Cordero’s group) were off Cortez Island and Read Island. The sighting was made by Aboriginal Journeys. We had wondered if they had gone east to the Salish Sea as they did so for a length of time last season and we just never heard them properly after July 22/23.
Today, OrcaLab welcomed Tim and Suze and their three boys to Hanson Island.
