Friday, July 21, 2006

21 July Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

What a contrast to yesterday's lazy, hazy summer day! All was quiet this morning and then the reports started to surface. The Lukwa (Stubbs Island Whale Watch) heard R calls out in Queen Charlottee Strait. The Tuan (Seasmoke Charters) saw the A36s with many, many whales off Donegal Head. Then we were told the super big group was headed east in Blackfish Sound and headed for Blackney. And then: In rushed over 80 whales, spread out across Blackney, excited and in a rush to get to the Strait. In the Strait, the A12s, A4s and the A5s were coming up from the east and Robson Bight to meet the incoming gang. Whales were everywhere! It was a superpod of grand proportions. At last count, 117 (thanks to Graeme Ellis and John Ford of DFO)whales were in the area. There were several G clan groups, the Ds, several R clan groups and of course the same As of the last several weeks. They rushed toward the Ecological Reserve where one group went into the Main rubbing beach for more than an hour. Now, the groups are reorganising for a trip back to the west.
Helena
21 Jul 2006 17:55:31 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The official count is now 127! An opportunity for another look by the DFO came when the whales moved toward CP early this evening. Our day was made complete when,after passing CP with beautiful calls and a glimpse underwater, they entered Blackney and headed northwest to the sunset. The big question is: Will they be back or was this the visit?
Helena
21 Jul 2006 20:51:28 PDT

Add from the comment board:
Hi Jan,The list we got from Graeme Ellis included: The R4/5s, Ws, I31s,G3s,G12s,G31s.G2s,G29s,A36s,A12s,A4s,A5s,Ds,C6s. I will ask if other Rs (R2s,R17s)were present. I hope this helps. It was quite a day!
Helena@Hanson I
21 Jul 2006 22:58:56 PDT

Sunday, July 16, 2006

16 July 2006, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

After a lot of back and forth starting just after day break the day ended in some confusion. In the afternoon we heard of new incoming groups.A while later the A12s,A4s,A8s and the A36s became very excited as they trekked west past CP. The reason for their excitment became evident when we heard the distant calls of the Cs and Ds just in via Weynton Passage. Then for some reason the calls dropped. Finally, A32 was seen travelling back to the east and a short while after that a few A4 calls. Unfortunately, those were our only clues and we are not sure where the A12,A8s and those new whales ended up. Time will hopefully tell.
Helena
16 Jul 2006 22:31:59 PDT

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

5 July 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

A further note: The A12s can be heard now on CP as they continue west and we now believe the C10s and A5s were with the A4s and A36s on their trek to Queen Charlotte Strait earlier.
Helena
05 Jul 2006 09:31:36 PDT

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

4 July 2006 Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

We believe that the A12s,A36s,A4s,A5s and Cs are still in the eastern reaches of Johnstone Strait.
Helena
04 Jul 2006 08:41:35 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The C6s are making their way back from the eastern end of Johnstone Strait. They are following the cracroft island shore.
Helena
04 Jul 2006 16:32:54 PDT

Boat noise

The C6s are continuing to the west in the Strait. All of the other groups are still far to the eastern end of Johnstone Strait.
Helena
04 Jul 2006 18:56:41 PDT

No orcas present.

The C6s went out of Johnstone Strait via Weynton Passage this evening.
Helena
04 Jul 2006 23:12:16 PDT

Monday, July 03, 2006

3 July 2006, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

We just had an exciting moment as the Cs and A5s passed the Lab very quickly on their way to the Strait.
Helena
03 Jul 2006 19:15:19 PDT