A5s and A30s traveling in JS

Seasmoke reports

Today proved to be a day of wonderful viewing despite the heavy rain! On the morning tour passengers had the experience of sailing with the whales: the A8’s, A23’s and the A30’s and while under sail, by trailing the hydrophone, passengers were able to listen to their wonderful A-Clan vocals as they foraged. On the afternoon sail time was spent with the I12’s, they were also foraging and I47 surprised everyone when surfacing near to the boat, allowing a wonderful and unforgettable sight!

Ellen reports:
We rounded Malcolm Point we saw the first Orcas. I was able to id I64 right away and there was an awful lot of familiar tall dorsal fins in there... I had a feeling we had the A36s there. The whales were heading for the beaches at Bere Pt and we witnessed a short rub there, amazing! Lots of socialization, amazing vocals, spyhops, breaches, everything in the orca manual book :) All in all I was positively able to id the A30s, A24s, A23's, A8s, A36s, I11s I hope I didn't miss anyone.
Ellen@Port McNeill
27 Aug 2008 17:20:02 PDT

All the A5s still in the area with the A12s and A24s

Seasmoke reports

The orcas reported in the area today were the A12’s, A23’s, A25’s, A8’s and A24’s. On the morning tour the orcas were in a long resting line, traveling slowly to the east, it was wonderful to watch their synchronized surfacing to expire and inhale. The A12’s, A25’s and A23’s were the pods closest to the boat and were enjoyed by all. The pods were again seen on our afternoon tours, this time they were traveling to the west along the Hanson Island shoreline, the viewing was superb from both vessels and A-Clan calls were heard via the hydrophone. The orcas made their turn back to the east, crossing towards the Vancouver Island shore. Their activity today included: resting, traveling, foraging, breeching and pectoral and tail slapping.

A5s travelling with A12s and A24s

Seasmoke reports

The orcas were traveling to the west from the Boat Bay Light, most of them were on the Cracroft Island shore, well spread out and stopping to forage along the way, the A12’s, A8’s, A24’s, A23’s and A25’s. A-Clan vocalizations were heard by passengers on both vessels, passengers on the SV Tuan enjoyed hearing some vocals from the A25’s above the water at one point without the hydrophone being deployed. Some quality viewing was observed of the A25’s. The behaviour today observed of the orcas was varied with tail slapping, pectoral slaps, breeching and half breeches, spyhopping as well some intense foraging, lunge diving and momentary resting.

A5s with A30s in JS moving west and east to Robson Bight

Seasmoke reports

There were several pods spread out across the strait traveling to the west, foraging along the way: the A30’s, A23’s, A8’s and A25’s. Quality time was spent with the A30’s and the A23’s as they foraged back and forth, their A-Clan calls were clearly audible both above and below the waterline.
When the orcas turned and headed back to the east towards the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve some social behaviour was observed and included spyhopping, tail slapping and pectoral slapping which was intriguing to watch.

A8s with A30s, A12s and A24s on transit

Seasmoke reports

There were many orcas to be seen in Johnstone Strait this morning, several pods were in transit, the A12’s, A30’s, A8’s and A24’s.

All the A5s with the A12s and A24s in JS

Seasmoke reports:

The pods that were sighted today were the A8’s, A23’s, A25’s, A24’s and the A12’s. They were again well spread out across Johnstone Strait. Traveling, foraging, tail slapping, breaching and spy-hopping socializing behaviour was observed.

A8s return from the east in the afternoon

Seasmoke reports:
The orcas were reported as being to the far east in Johnstone Strait in the early morning, they were resting near Port Neville and began traveling to the west at a rapid and steady pace. It was on the afternoon tour that we encountered them just west of the Boat Bay Light on the Cracroft Island shore, the A8’s and the A24’s, other pods were further behind in the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, foraging and heading west as well.

A5s with A12s and A24s up and down in JS

We have the A12´s, A24´s and all the A5´s in the strait going west again. They do everyday the same, going up and down the strait. Nice to have them around. The A36´s came back from the east last night around 10pm and went out through Blackney this morning at 4am. We hearing very distant calls on CP now. A lot of strange imitation calls today. So sad you cannot hear them. But hopefully soon. Cross your fingers.
Melanie
16 Aug 2008 14:21:04 PDT

A5s with A24s and A12s in the Bight

We are so sorry that the live audio is still not working.But the internet is still on and off. A short update. The A12´s, all A5´s and the A24´s are in the bight, close to the hydrophone we can hear A12calls. A55, A62, A67 and A83 were a bit far off the others. All going east. We had a report of the A36´s coming up from the east. So maybe they join the others soon. This morning we had the A30´s with the I31´s in Blackfish Sound, after the A30´s went out last night they brought the I31´s back in. But they went already out again to the west.
Melanie
15 Aug 2008 15:42:25 PDT

A5s with A24s, A30s and A12s heading east

Orcalab reports:

Just try to give you an update. Our connection is still on and off. We had the A30s, A36s, A12s and A11s yesterday joining the A5s and A24s in Johnstone Strait. The A36s and A12s went far to the east. Today we have the A12s, A30s, A5s and A24s in the strait, going back and forth. The A11s went out yesterday evening. We saw the new calf of A35 and A64. They looking great. It's so good to see new babys. Now somebody is rubbing without calling. The rest is still in the bight. We had a report that all groups going slowly to the east. Maybe they will pick up the A36s, which were on the way back to the west. Lets see.
Melanie
14 Aug 2008 18:40:25 PDT

A5s also present today

Stubbs whale watching reports:

In the afternoon the sun shone and it was fabulous, it was the first time this season our naturalists were able to go without their jackets. On the way down Johnstone Strait we had the most incredible bow-riding Pacific white-sided dolphins. They were porpoising and riding in the wake of the boat. We then encountered the A30's; A23's; and possibly the A8's. On our way back up Blackfish Sound we found the A11's in Weynton Pass.

A5s with A36s and A24s in the area

Distant calls audible.

Hello,our internet connection is going on and off and just now I will give you a short update. Last night the A36´s, A24´s and the A5´s came into Blackney went north very slow. After about an hour the A24´s and A5´s turned and went back south to the strait. The A36´s went out. So we had the night and today the same game like the last two weeks, the A24´s and the A5´s are going back and forth in the Johnstone Strait. Now we are listing to the A5´s distant on Crpt. We will see how long the internet connection keeps going this time.
Melanie
11 Aug 2008 18:47:44 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A5´s and prob. the A24´s were in the Johnstone Strait going back and forth. Sounds like they went east. But probably not long. We had short calls from the A36´s in Blackfish Sound. Do they call them? We will see.
Melanie
11 Aug 2008 21:20:27 PDT

Seasmoke reports
On the afternoon tour passengers on board M.V. Cetacea encountered the orcas the A24’s, A8’s and A25’s heading back to the west, foraging as they went along the Hanson Island shore. An orca was seen with a salmon in its mouth, spy-hopping was also observed but mostly the behavior noted was foraging.

A5s and A24s back in JS and left to the east

No calls but orcas nearby

Finally we have internet connection again. The A5´s, A24´s and the A36´s (who came last night in throught Blackney) are in Johnstone Strait probably still eastbound. We expecting them on the Rubbing Beaches. Hopefully everthing works good and we are online.
Melanie
10 Aug 2008 16:16:28 PDT

No orcas present.

The A5´s and the A24´s passed the eastern boundary of the reserve, still eastbound. We don´t know exactly what happend to the A36´s, it is not important that they went out through Weynton. Lot of boatnoise in Blackfish Sound.
Melanie
10 Aug 2008 17:21:18 PDT

A5s in company with A24s to the east

Seasmoke reports

The orcas seen on todays tour were the A24’s, A23’s and A8’s. They were foraging and resting, heading west along the Hanson Island shore before turning back to the east.

Seasmoke reports:

The pods seen today were the same as yesterday, all of the A5’s and the A30’s. It is reassuring to see that their travel to the far east (traveling great distances) in search of food has changed in recent days and they are spending more time in the western part of Johnstone Strait, foraging in the area from the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve up to Turn Point or further west to the Stephenson Islands and Beaver Cove, then turning back to the east. On our tours today they were observed to be foraging most of the time, in their family groups, well spread out across the strait. Some half breaches, resting, a spyhop and some playful interaction between siblings were also observed.

Seasmoke reports

When the curtain of fog had finally cleared in Johnstone Strait, the orcas were sighted and beautifully so! It was the same group as yesterday, the A5’s and the A8’s. They were all spread out and foraging, some along the Hanson Island shore and others crossing over to the VI shore. With the engine off and the boat drifting in the current, A-Clan vocals could be clearly heard via the hydrophone. On the afternoon tour, after a brief encounter of bow-riding Pacific White-sided Dolphins, MV Cetacea met up with the A25’s who were traveling back to the east, foraging steadily along the VI shore, the other pods were further east and in the Robson Bight Reserve.

Seasmoke reports:

This morning the orcas were sighted at Cracroft Point, they were in resting lines, the rhythmic pattern of their surfacing in unison to exhale and inhale was beautiful to watch and mesmerizing as were the sounds they made in the stillness of the morning; the A5 pods and the A24’s. On the afternoon tour, the orcas were moving west from Cracroft Point along the Hanson Island shore. Light winds were blowing and both the main sail and the stay sail were hoisted enabling passengers the experience of sailing quietly with the orcas while trailing the hydrophone while listening to their A-Clan calls. Some of the pods carried on west towards the Stephenson Islands (the A25’s and A8’s) while the A23’s and A24’s crossed over to the VI shore, all of them foraging. It was up in Beaver Cove that all of the pods foraged intensively before they turned back to the east.

A5s still in Johnstone Strait

Seasmoke reports

The three pods, the A24’s, A8’s and A23’s who had foraged at the top end of Johnstone Strait in the morning had made their way back to the east and into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. As happened yesterday afternoon, we again encountered orcas at the Boat Bay light after they had left the Reserve, heading back to the west. The A8’s were nearest to the boat, they were foraging as they traveled along.

A8s in JS near Cracroft Island

Seasmoke reports:

When the SV Tuan headed out on tour this afternoon there were reports of orcas heading east at the east end of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve (A30’s, A23’s, A8’s) and orcas heading west, west of Lizard Point (A12’s). We began by heading west but when a report came in that some of the pods had turned back to the west at the east end of the reserve, we headed in that direction. The heavy flood current had us make our way swiftly down Blackfish Sound and we were soon in Johnstone Strait where blows and the dorsal fins of the orcas could be seen heading in our direction. A large dorsal fin was sighted nearby, identified as A38 (oldest surviving son of A30 from the A30 pod). He was separate from his family who were much further east in Johnstone Strait, he was observed foraging intensely, moving back and forth. The A8’s were also foraging steadily along the Cracroft shore, turning back at times to forage then moving west against the flood current, taking long dives. One lucky passenger managed to snap a wonderful photo when one of the orcas spy-hopped, delighting everyone. A few dall’s porpoises were observed to be traveling with the A8’s as they crossed Blakney Passage in the heavy flood current.