With the A34s still vocal in Johnstone Strait in the very early hours of September 15, a few faint and sporadic I15 calls were picked up on the Strider Rubbing Beach system, marking their presence in the east of the Strait as well. Meanwhile, A34 calls grew louder on the Rubbing Beaches in the Reserve, until they paused for a rubbing session spread between Main and Strider Rubbing Beach from 12:18 to 12:33am. Continuing east afterward, their last calls faded by 2:00am as they carried on with their journey.
Around midday, the humpback whale Inukshuk became very vocal near Parson Island. Fluking frequently, he passed the Lab shortly after. It is rare to be able to match humpback vocals with a specific individual, making this recording particularly special.
At 1:19pm, a few distant calls were heard in the east of Johnstone Strait. They faded again until 2:34pm, when the Strider Rubbing Beach system picked up loud and excited A34 calls. At least seven orcas were seen on the remote camera heading west – likely the A34s (- the A62s). At 2:46pm, they came in for a four-minute rub at Strider Rubbing Beach, only to be interrupted by a lively group of dolphins surging up and down the shoreline. Capturing these fast, vibrant creatures on the underwater camera was an event in itself. The A34s attempted another rub at 2:54pm, but the dolphins intervened once more, cutting the session short after just two minutes. Continuing west, the group was seen on the remote camera of Cracroft Point by 3:35pm, before stopping for a brief rub at Kaizumi Rubbing Beach about an hour later.
By 6:17pm, Jared reported them traveling east along the Vancouver Island shoreline near Kaikash Creek. Their movement was matched by a few distant and sporadic calls on Strider Rubbing Beach, first at 7:30pm and again at 9:19pm, as they continued eastward.
As we prepared to say goodbye to three people the next day, the evening closed with a pizza night, accompanied by a screening of stunning rubbing beach footage filmed by Megan a few years ago. The power of the images left everyone moved – goosebumps not only for those seeing it for the first time, but also for those who had watched it before. Adding to the evening, the saltwater bathtub was lit for the first time of the season after its freshly painted lid was put back in place. Few things are more special than a hot bath under the sparkling night sky of Blackney Pass.
The late hours of the day were filled with the resonant grunts and whoops of a humpback heard both above and below water. Under a beautifully clear night sky, the powerful sounds of this whale were the perfect close to the day.
Words by Freddy
