Superb sounds!!

We've been listening to wonderful calls from A1s, A4s, A5s, on the Critical Point hydrophone. Boat noise is coming now.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 00:18:21 PDT

No orcas present.

There are whales heading back west from the Broken Islands. Earliier this morning, after the last post when the A30s were sitting on top of Critical Point, the A5s came soon after and the scene shifted to the Rubbing Beach system. The rub began at 3am and carried on for a while, then the A4,A30 calls grew increasing distant. It was not absolutely clear what the A5s did after being so close to Critical Point but these groups have enjoyed each other's company so we believe they also went east.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 10:56:03 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

After zooming past the Beaches the whales, (the A30s, A24s and A5s) have moved into the area opposite Robson Bight and Boat Bay.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 12:18:14 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A8s were first to go by (under) the Cliff at 1pm. A28, from that group, was swimming back with the A23s (just like last year). The A30s were closer to the Vancouver Island shore with the A24s following. A39 was in the middle. Now, just past Kaikash Creek the A24s are angling out toward the Hanson Island side as the other groups continue westward.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 13:49:33 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The whale groups are stretched from Blinkhorn back to the CP area. The A30s and the A24s travelled up the Vancouver island side. The A24s angled out once they reached Kaiakash Creek. Meanwhil, on the the A8s and A23s progressed past CP and up the Hanson island side. The A25s are the last group passing CP.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 14:44:38 PDT

Distant calls audible.

A few of the whales turned back to the east and one of the A30 males made it all the way to Izumi Rock (just west of Robson Bight) before turning around to the Northwest. Other groups were still off the Blinkhorn, Telegraph Cove area while this happeened.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 16:06:58 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The whales are really eastbound now. At 4:45pm, the Lukwas reported that as they headed into Telegraph Cove, there were whales spread from deep inside Beaver Coe (to the west of Telegraph Cove) to the Stephenson Islands in the entrance of Weynton Passage. They were beginning to turn then. An hour later, the whales were off Blinkhorn (east of Telegraph Cove) and still east bound.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 17:59:22 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Very slow progress to the east so far. But they are vocal.The whales are passing Kaikash Creek,opposite CP, close to the Vancouver Island side.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 19:51:22 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A30s,A24s and the A5s have made it back to the Reserve and are continuing east.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 20:31:55 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We are debating whether we can still hear calls through the noise of the distorted,lapping water on the rubbing beach system. What we do know is that the last calls on the Critical Point system were at 10:05pm. About twenty minutes later the A30s,A24s and A5s were off the beaches. There was some rubbing activity between 10:57pm and 11:05pm. After that the calls grew steadily more distant as the whales moved even further away.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 23:24:35 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The whales can be heard once again on Critical Point.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 23:51:33 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The A30s have arrived in Robson Bight from the east. There are still faint calls on the rubbing beach system.
Helena
09 Aug 2009 23:56:48 PDT

Seasmoke reports
On the afternoon tour the pods of orcas who had been travelling back from the far east all morning in Johnstone Strait were sighted, they were well spread out across the Strait: the A30’s, A24’s and A5’s (A8’s, A23’s and A25’s). We encountered the A30’s near Kaikash, A39 was foraging well ahead of the others. There was a lot of interaction between family members with multiple spyhopping, pectoral and tail slapping, porpoising and resting behaviour being observed. At the Bauza Islets we observed several orcas foraging, some were resting while others moved further west. Where ever one looked, orcas could be seen in the distance and it was nice to sit quietly and listen to their beautiful A-Clan calls.