After northern lights graced the skies over Swanson Island at 12:50 am, September 15 turned into a whale-busy day, full of reports, encounters, and a few puzzles to piece together. Shortly before sunrise, a humpback whale became vocal on the Strider Rubbing Beach hydrophone at 6:08am, shifting west into Kaizumi’s range about half an hour later. As the sun rose and bathed Blackney Pass in golden light, Alex relayed a report of four Bigg’s orcas near Parson Light around 7:30am travelling north. This group was not visible from the Lab in the morning glare, but at 7:47am the T019s rounded Gab’s Rock, moving slowly mid-channel through Blackney Pass and completing a beautiful morning scene. By 8:00am, they had cleared the Lab’s view heading into Blackfish Sound, while Alex noted the group of four passing Flower Island, heading west. The T019s continued through Blackfish Sound, reaching Lizard Point in Queen Charlotte Strait around 10:30am, while the other group first moved across in front of the White Cliff Islets and then west, across Arrow Pass near the entrance to Knight Inlet. Not long after, a third group of Bigg’s orcas seen at War Bluff emerged from Knight Inlet. It was now almost 10:30am.
The late morning brought more reports. Around 11:00am, Megan observed the A25s off Marina Reef heading south in the Salish Sea. At the same time, PWWA reported seven Northern Residents moving southeast toward Vancouver Bay, north of Sonora Island. No identification was forthcoming. By 12:20pm, Alex spotted the A34s crossing from Queen Charlotte Strait into Blackney Pass. Part of the A34s, Simoom’s (A34’s) oldest daughter’s family took Weynton Passage into Johnstone Strait around 1:00pm, while the rest – A34’s group and her second oldest daughter A67’s group – continued east through Blackfish Sound, passing Double Bay by 1:30pm. Seen shortly after on the remote sea lion camera, they spent about an hour foraging and moving non-directionally before coming into view of the Lab at 2:49pm. With either A80 or A55 likely in the lead on the farside, the A34s passed, very spread out. Twenty minutes later, the A67s followed closer to the Lab, crossing paths with Quartz, the humpback, as he travelled north just off the deck. By 3:14pm, Barbara reported the A62s heading east in Johnstone Strait close along the Vancouver Island shore, shortly before the A34s and A67s grouped together before disappearing into the entrance of Blackney Pass by 3:25pm.
Soon after, they were seen offshore at Cracroft Point, making their way into Johnstone Strait. At 4:46pm, a mother and baby engaged in a sweet 11-minute rub at Kaizumi Rubbing Beach. From there, the A34s regrouped and carried on eastward, spread out across the Strait and filling it with their calls. By 7:48pm, clear calls and echolocation were heard on Critical Point as some of the whales, relaxed and foraging, entered an evening-sun-drenched Robson Bight. Their calls – sometimes faint, sometimes close, continued on Critical Point and Strider Rubbing Beach until the end of the day.
It wasn’t just the whales that kept things busy today. On land and water, there was plenty happening: Oliver and Thomas, secured the shack at Cracroft Point for winter, while Olivia, Rich and Karien collected data for the monthly CTD tests. Karien also gave the underwater camera at Strider Rubbing Beach a clean – before treating herself to a quick rub there, too. Olivia brought the boat back to Cracroft Point where she and the others waited for Thomas and Oliver to finish work on the CP shelter. Just before this could be completed the A34s, who had transited Blackney Pass, came into view along the Hanson shore. This delayed the departure from Cracroft Point until the whales had sufficiently moved on. The Sonic arrived back in time to unload before dinner was served.
The day, rich with encounters and activity, ended with another communal dinner. Helena’s delicious lasagna was exactly what everyone needed after such a full day.
Words by Freddy
