[CINC] Speed Twin 5/31/08

[Linda Hitt]

12:00 trip: Humpbacks - 2, then 5, then 15 or more
                   Pacific White-sided Dolphin - 13 or more
                   About 4 miles off the coast from UCSB

3:00 trip:  Humpbacks - 5
                  Pacific White-sided Dolphin - 20 +
                  Bottle nosed Dolphin - 2
                  About 3 miles off the coast

This was a sunny, warm day & one of the best whale days I have had.  Capt Steve said that the first trip especially was one of his best.  On both trips we found a large bait ball very close to the surface which attracted many species.  The water was just full of life: Humpbacks, the dolphins, rafts of seal lions, pelicans, & gulls, all hungry.  There were Humpbacks every where we looked.  We saw several distant breaches, bubble netting, a beautiful lunge feed very close to the boat, 3 synchronized flukes.  Flukes were not numerous because the whales didn't need to dive for their food.  They also didn't play with the boat because they were so busy eating, but did come very close for some wonderful views.

As usual there were passengers from all over the world & the US.  Keith Hale & Anna Hilliard shared interpreting on this wonderful day with all of us.


--- Linda Hitt
--- lhittnp at earthlink.net
--- EarthLink: The #1 provider of the Real Internet.
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