Yesterday’s deep fog showed signs of lifting part way through the morning. The stirring wind was enough to push it away so that the mountains of Vancouver Island and the surrounding hills began to be features of the landscape once more. The air was full of refreshing moisture and the skies grey.
The A34 group had stayed away in Queen Charlotte Strait during the night. Kate, at Bere Point, did not hear their calls coming from the west until 6:50am. A male showed up less than a mile away but then disappeared around 9:30am.
A few dolphins made an appearance both in Blackney Pass and in the entrance way to Johnstone Strait.
It was up to the whale watch boats to then pick up the trail. At 12:07pm Ocean Magic II saw the A34s enter into Blackfish Sound. They were spread out between Donegal Head and Swanson Island. It was not long after that we began to hear their calls at 12:37pm. We took a peak using the remote Sea Lion camera and could see them in Blackfish for ourselves.
The first group filed into Blackney at 1:43pm. A55, A34, A96 and A132 along with A80 were identified in that order. By the time they reached the space between Parson Island and Hanson Island they had managed to get closer to each other as they passed out of our view to the south.
It was then over to Shari at “CP”. She first saw a single male at 2:23pm and then others at 2:39pm. Generally, the whales looked like they were heading east.
The Sonic was at this time returning from Alert Bay loaded with groceries and laundry and more importantly with Tomoko who was returning after a five year absence. Amazing to realise it had been five years. But because Tomoko kept just a text message away throughout each summer on a regular basis it felt like she ever really left. She has the amazing ability to listen to the audio feed. The time difference between here and Japan works in our favour and because of this difference Tomoko is able to offer help to those on night shift. Her efforts have been so appreciated. Now she is back she can do this in person! That is once the jet lag wears off!
During the ride back a few Dalls porpoise swam by the Sonic’s starboard sidejust past Double Bay and then just a short while later, on the port side, and further out, a small group of orcas headed to Burnt Point. The Sonic slowed down to make sure to not close in on the orcas who were angling in earnest to Burnt Point just west of the Lab. This turned out to be the A67s and as they approached closer to the Hanson Island shore they milled and spy hopped before resuming southward. The Lab was watching. As the A67s moved “down” to the sea lion rock area south of the Lab, the Sonic managed to finally get around “the corner” and land at the Lab.
By this time, Scotty was reporting that the lead group (Simoom’s A34 group) were foraging close to the Vancouver Island shore near Izumi Rock. Eclipse’s A67 group were not yet through Blackney Pass but they soon would be and when they were off CP they foraged, sometimes close to the camp, formed a resting line of sorts then turned to swim after the rest of their family.
Simoom’s group were already into the Ecological Reserve after 5pm and as part of their eastern trek went in for a quick rub between 5:19pm and 5:21pm. This would not be their only effort. The rub was repeated from 5:47pm to 5:49pm. They did not rub at Main beach but that hydrophone picked up their calls as they continued east for the time being.
Eclipse’s group were still well behind. One of the groups arrived at Robson Bight by 8:48pm where there was some very clear echolocation. Calls in the Bight continued for a while longer.
By 9:59pm we had lost track of either group’s movements.
Shari at CP was fortunate enough to see, in addition to the orcas, the humpbacks Black Pearl and baby, as well as Argonaut taking a hiatus from his usual Blackney Pass haunt. Quartz, Ridge and Magician. Ridge was lunge feeding during the morning and Scotty remarked that he saw several sea gull casualties in the area sparking Shari’s comment that maybe the humpbacks had been a little “callous” with their lunge feeding.
Additionally during the day there was a report of part of the R5s near Ketchikan and Dylan, doing survey work on the central coast, chimed in that they had the R5s as well as some of the R17s 15 miles west of Calvert Island a few days ago. With them had been the I18s, I4s, I65s (remember them?) and the I27s.
By the end of the day, the mist, the fog and the rain took over once more. Looking into the forest the relief of moisture was palpable with hues of intense green and the ground softened underfoot. The garden rain barrels had become full once again. The rain also meant that the sauna fire could be lit so everyone might enjoy a shower before collecting their newly laundered clothes!
The A34s, were not destined to stay long in the Strait and sometime just after midnight they returned to Blackney Pass and went north. Tomoko was up and in the Lab!
