[CINC] FW: CX Sat 10/24/2009 - - PS

[Kevin Bailey]

PS:  We also got a really good look at a Mola Mola / Sunfish

 

From: channel_islands_naturalist_corps-bounces at rain.org
[mailto:channel_islands_naturalist_corps-bounces at rain.org] On Behalf Of
Kevin Bailey
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 5:24 PM
To: RAIN LIST
Subject: [CINC] CX Sat 10/24/2009

 

5 Bottlenose right outside the breakwater

150 with 1/3 calves + 1000 with 10% babies + 500 with 37 babies + scattered
here and there other Common Dolphins

2 Minkes who had humpback blood

 

Today we headed to the east of SCI because there had been sighting of Blues
and Rissos. Instead we found Minkes that were acting like humpbacks. We saw
several breaches off in the distance and when we got closer discovered it
was a Minke breaching. After watching a while it multiplied into 2 Minkes
and one breached right in front of the boat less than  50 yards from the
bow. Then one of the whales approached the boat several times, turned over
to show us its belly and mini humpback pecs and swam under the boat. It was
by far the most friendly and closest Minke whale encounter we have seen with
the sole exception of the lunge feeding Minkes last month off Anacapa. Matt
said he had never seen such friendly Minke whales.

 

The weather was great with a swell in certain spots of the channel but
mostly very smooth all day. We could see a thick fog bank down the west side
off of SCI  as we cruised east and stuck our head into Potato Harbor. It was
interesting to see Potato Harbor from the water after seeing it from the top
of the cliff. On the trip home we saw another large dolphin pod with many
jumping 20-30 feet into the air! Many were jumping really high multiple
times and you could see 6-10 jumping all at one time. They were very
acrobatic and must have been trying to prove the can jump since the Minke
was jumping with 90+% of its body out of the water.

 

We had visitors from Switzerland, Japan, San Diego, Hemet, Temecula and some
locals in the group of 25.

 

Kevin Bailey

Toni Bailey

Carol Celic

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