[CINC] 1/1/09 IPCO

[Karen Sullivan]

First trip
1 Gray
400 Commons
Gazillions of birds

2nd trip
700 Commons
half a gazillion birds
No whales


Gary and I spent the first day of 2009 on the Island Adventure  with our very own Lee as Captain.
Morning trip, foggy skies, 27 passengers.  Headed toward Scorpion, seeing Commons and lots of sea lions everywhere.  Turned toward Anacapa and ran into a huge swath of birds of all kinds, hanging out on the water mostly, in amazing numbers.    Went a long the back of Anacapa in dense fog, then came around the front, and right about cathedral cove, one wily whale popped up between us and the island.  It was getting late by then, but Lee hung with the whale for several breathing cycles, and 2 flukes, and then we headed in.

Second trip, 89 passengers, better weather, fewer sightings.  We headed east toward east end of Anacapa hoping to intercept 2 grays that Lori (from IPCO) had seen from Cavern point on her hike.   No such luck, but we did run into a large (700+)  pod of commons, which pleased everyone as usual.
Back behind Anacapa and across to Scorpion and beyond, with beautiful skies, the same large group of birds, but not quite as many, but no whales.
Headed home, still a great day.

 Karen Sullivan
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