[CINC] CX Mon 8June 09

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

The Data:

Ocean Animals:

2 Humpbacks
8 Blues
2500 common dolphin
Lots of Sooty Shearwaters, a dozen California brown Pelican, off  
shore, and a Great Blue Heron on the bait tanks as we returned to port.

People:
1 Couple - UK
3 Separate Couples - Germany
1 Couple - Netherlands
1 Couple - Ukraine
1 Couple + 1 son - Torrance CA
1 Couple + 1 son + 1 daughter - San Pedro CA
1 Couple + 1 son + 1 daughter - Tampa FL
1 Couple + 1 daughter (turned 24 today, happy birthday) - Oklahoma

Calm Seas, overcast with peeks of sun, cool to warm, ... nice

About 45 min into the trip, a large pod of Common Dolphin showed up,  
kind of scattered, say bout 2000, feeding. Then a short time later our  
first whale sighting, a calf/cow pair of Humpbacks seemingly feeding  
also, but no lunges nor any of the the entertainment moves. Not much  
in the fluke displays either, but we hung around with these two for a  
good bit as they moved around in basically the same area.

Moving on for the big guys, our Ukraine folks really wanted Blues and  
a fluke of a Blue, and every one else was pretty much looking for  
Blues as well.  Capt Mat did not disappoint, finding one in about 20  
minutes of leaving the Humpbacks.

But there was more to see, so we left and came up on another pod of  
Dolphin, this one about 500 or so.  The folks were delighted with all  
the action and sightings of the babies right along with mom.

Then off toward the shelf off the SCI/SRI gap we saw many a tall  
blow.  Off to the feeding grounds and sure enough a pair and then many  
Blues. One of these was kind enough to offer up a nice portion of  
fresh whale feces, scattered along a nice line of about 20 feet. The  
folks were quite please with this, much like new parents delighted  
with the fact that their new offspring has all systems in fine working  
order. "Look honey, our daughter can GO!!"  Another, came near the  
Condor showing up close its massive size and grace in the waters. Our  
count was of 8, solid sightings, but there were several blows off a  
bit that were sure Blues. Yep, they are in and in goodly numbers.

Today was feeding day. The dolphins were feeding, the Humpbacks were  
feeding, and so were all the Blues, ... around 1230, so were all the  
people.  This, of course, meant no big displays, but lots of good  
showings.  The Blues, for me, never disappoint, their sleek blue gray  
mottled sheen surfacing and slicing through the waters, with not so  
much of a ripple, and only a nice smooth foot print left behind. AND,  
no flukes were offered.

Yet, it was counted as a very good day on the channel and the folks on  
this run were not disappointed, in fact they were quite pleased.

Keith Hale and I did the presentation and milled with the masses, and  
Carolyn McCleskey did the honors with the PID and also milled with the  
masses.

A very good day, for sure.

Ken Tatro