[CINC] Scorpion

[Catherine French]

What a busy weekend, even for a holiday weekend in October! I led three hikes on Saturday and two on Sunday. The boats were loaded with campers, day visitors and kayakers galore. I asked some visitors why they chose to visit Santa Cruz and they said, "We've been watching Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks and this is nearby, so we decided to check it out." Everyone loved it. It pays to have good PR.



One the first hike Saturday, Oct. 10 to Cavern Point, we spotted three humpbacks swimming by. I mentioned this to Ranger Juan and he saw the threesome from the pier and two kayak guides saw them just before we did, but they were in the water and a lot closer! Lots of common, rissos, coastal and bottlenose dolphins seen on the way to and from the island for both days of shuttling so passengers had a real thrill.



We on Saturday morning we saw a Jaeger hassle an arctic tern for the fish in it's beak, good news the tern won. On the island we say an osprey. But the biggest thing was the hundreds of ravens gorging themselves on figs, unripe and otherwise. It seemed like an Alfred Hitchcock movie. They were in great form, unzipping packs and strewing a variety of items all around.



Calm seas and light winds made for a great stay on the island.



Sincerely,

Catherine French
cfrench1366 at aol.com
805.815.3523
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