Time to catch up again!
Autumn is fully underway. The forest replenished by all the rain is carpeted with the oranges, browns, yellows and greens of fallen cedar leaves. Mushrooms keep popping up. Birds are everywhere, migrating geese flying above, sea gulls and shearwaters competing offshore, sparrows and their like darting in and around garden and forest, herons patrolling the shore and of course, Uni, the stalwart Glaucus Winged gull who visits every year is keeping watch.
This lively time is made even more so by the changing weather patterns. A series of strong gales have taken over the complacent calm seas. The air is fresh and invigorating and predominantly from the southeast encouraging the sea lions hauled out on the Hanson Island rocks to turn their backs on it and snuggle.
We have not seen or heard Northern Residents since October 12 when the A34s departed to the north. But recently we heard about the A42s and A25s who had disappeared for a while off everyone’s radar. First they were reported October 19 in Howe Sound near Vancouver. The next day, a short video was posted on social media showing the A42s in close to shore corralling a salmon on Gambier Island, Howe Sound.
Then on October 24 they were seen just east of Sonora Island. They are moving northward which is a good sign for us.
Mostly, it is the humpbacks which are keeping us busy. Just before Barbara left on Tuesday, October 21 the humpbacks began to crowd into Blackney Pass. The daily count went from a few to at least eight. They are so busy feeding.
Just yesterday (October 24) their focus and intent was so evident. Huge “bait balls” with tonnes of herring or small fish just below the surface attracted both birds and humpbacks into their midst. It was a frenzy! The humpbacks went from one site to the next non stop until they all seemed to collectively give up and move on.
But we soon become aware of the humpbacks once again come nightfall. This is when their voices are typically heard at this time of the year. Sometimes it is just a few calls but at other times they get into it, varying their calls in what is usually determined as a presong that holds the promise of full songs soon to be forthcoming
Humpbacks are not the only “voice” in the ocean. We mentioned in the last summary about the Bigg’s orcas and Pacific White-sided dolphins late in the evening in Blackfish Sound and Johnstone Strait respectively. On October 24th, Bigg’s orcas were heard in Johnstone Strait jut before noon. They were close to Strider Beach travelling east and were soon found by Jared Towers, who identified them as T023 and the T023Ds, off Naka Creek east of the Ecological Reserve.
Below are some pictures from the past few days.
