The very early hours of September 12 began with faint calls on the remote system at Kaizumi Rubbing Beach, along with a vocal humpback in Blackfish Sound. At first the orca calls were distant and infrequent, but by 1:39am they became clear on the Cracroft Point system, confirming the presence of the A23s. After a period of silence, their calls were next detected on the Blackfish Sound remote system at 3:27am. The timing between the two locations suggests that the group travelled north through Blackney Pass, passing the Lab quietly and unnoticed. Faint calls and echolocation continued in Blackfish Sound until 5:44am, when they moved out of range.
Shortly after, a surprise rubbing began at Strider Rubbing Beach, lasting nine minutes from 6:01am. A second rub followed between 6:22 and 6:36 am, and in the dim light of morning the whales revealed themselves as the A62s on the remote camera at the beach. As they slowly began to travel westward, another rub occurred at Strider Rubbing Beach from 7:57 to 8:07 am, this time involving the A34s and A67s.
Led by the A62s, all of the A34s began moving west through Johnstone Strait, crossing Robson Bight along the way. Remaining silent the A62s appeared on the remote Cracroft Point camera by 9:17am, traveling close along the Vancouver Island shore and reaching Little Kaikash by 10:03am. Meanwhile, the A34s and A67s crossed Johnstone Strait toward Cracroft Point and were seen at the entrance of Blackney Pass by 10:30am.
Half an hour later, A80 in the lead entered Blackney Pass, followed shortly after by the rest of the A34s and A67s. Spread loosely, the groups passed the Lab heading north and disappeared from view by 11:41 am. Around the same time, Kaizumi Rubbing Beach picked up calls from the A62s, still travelling in the Strait. By 12:47pm, they too passed through Blackney Pass, tightly grouped and following behind the A34s.
Meanwhile, Alex reported the A23s moving southeast across Donegal Head from the north shore at 11:57am. Due to technical issues at the time, their journey through Blackney Pass around 1:47pm came as a surprise. The group continued south, crossing into the Strait in front of Cracroft Point by 2:47pm and maintaining an eastbound direction. Calls from the A34s in Blackfish Sound carried on until about 4 pm, then faded, suggesting the group had left the hydrophone network to the west.
The A23s reached Strider Rubbing Beach at 5:36pm, beginning a 17-minute rubbing session. Afterward they remained in the area, spread out and milling, with spyhops observed near Main Rubbing Beach until 7:09 pm, before shifting further offshore. Between 9:17 and 11:32pm, the system on Strider Rubbing Beach picked up occasional echolocation and distant whistles, indicating the group lingered before eventually continuing east.
Around the same time, Dylan reported the I33s, I35s, and I68s in Nitinat Canyon, about 45 miles southeast of Bamfield. Apparently, there were several other Northern Residents in the same vicinity.
Words by Freddy
