A24s with A73

Distant calls audible.

A very,very busy night: the A4s,A1s stayed in the Rubbing Beach/Robson Bight area throughout the early morning hours, taking turns at the Beaches then drifting back to Critical Point. We are still working out the details of the movements, but the A5s did come up from the east and joined the others so it was quite the party. Later, the A36s and A12 broke away to come north through Blackney Pass in a rush to get to the west. The A30s followed (just recently) up to the Sophia Islands but then turned back toward the Reserve. The A4s are not too far away but the A5s may have possibly turned back eastward.
Helena
04 Aug 2009 09:03:08 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A30s probably had everyone in tow when they travelled up to the Sophias. The report is of about 30 orcas.
Helena
04 Aug 2009 09:08:47 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

And back again to the Beaches!
Helena
04 Aug 2009 10:13:07 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The whales got as far as Naka Creek then turned back to the west. The are back in the Ecological Reserve and on the Boat Bay side.
Helena
04 Aug 2009 12:41:24 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

And now for the next act!
Helena
04 Aug 2009 20:43:44 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

Ooops, maybe not quite yet!
Helena
04 Aug 2009 20:47:15 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

Here they go! A5s first.
Helena
04 Aug 2009 20:57:43 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

A now A4!
Helena
04 Aug 2009 21:33:19 PDT

Seasmoke reports
As we headed out on tour, passengers and crew alike could not imagine the remarkable orca viewing that lay ahead. Nearing the Sophia Islands we could see orca fins and blows stretched before us across Johnstone Strait, heading west in our direction. It was very exciting to see them speeding by and that was literally what they were doing. Because they were traveling at such a rapid rate and being so spread out, the mothers and their calves close along the Vancouver Island shoreline, it was very difficult to identify the individual orcas and their pods. The orcas that were in the Strait most of the day and this afternoon were the A30’s, A24’s, and the A5’s. The orcas that we were closer to and better able to identify were the A30’s who were also spread out (A54 and her calves and A38), the A25’s and also the A24’s including A73 with her open saddle patch. Stopping at times to deploy the hydrophone, it was wonderful listening to their beautiful A-Clan calls as well, ecolocations as some orcas foraged nearby. Breaching, spyhopping, foraging, pectoral slapping and resting behaviour was observed. Heading back home care was taken to steer clear of numerous orcas who were still heading west behind those who had slowed down and were foraging off the Bauza Islets. It was indeed a very remarkable day for viewing orcas in Johnstone Strait.