[CINC] Question

[Mr Zalophus]

I cannot tell from the description what the general behavior of the black
animals was, for example, were they in line with the Tt's, surfacing and
blowing at regular intervals with them?  But I can share with you that we
have had a number of report of "killer whales' broadcast over marine Ch 16
by naive sailors and their kin who see a local resident couple of Minke
Whales that have particularly tall dorsal fins as compared to the rest of
the Minke bell-shaped curve.  But, again, if the black animals with tall
dorsals were not behaving like a Minke...ie, shy, long down times compared
to Tt, eratic directional component to movement, then we are still up in the
air.   To bad a staff photographer was not around !

Bob Perry
Malibu

On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 9:57 AM, Keith Grey Hale <
greywhalejewelry at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Good question I have seen these to. I am not sure but all that you have
> said came into mind also.
>
> Keith
>
> ------------------------------
> From: dean.benjamin at sbcglobal.net
> To: channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org
> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:21:43 -0700
> Subject: [CINC] Question
>
>  I am loathe to expose my ignorance to our august group of naturalists,
> but this one really has me puzzled.  I came across 4 animals yesterday,
> about ½ mile off the Mandalay Power Plant at about 18:30.  Two were most
> likely bottlenose dolphins.  The other two were solid black, at least as
> much of the body as I could see (no clear view of the head, tail, or lower
> portion of the body).  Dorsal fins about 2 feet high.  Exhalation was
> visible although no well defined and not huge, and I estimate the length to
> be 9-12 feet.  Water temperature 68 degrees F.
>
>
>
> My thoughts are:
>
> Dall’s Porpoise – I observed no white coloration.
>
> Orcas – these were too small and juvenile Orcas would not be alone, and the
> bottlenose would not have stayed close.
>
> Melon-headed Whale – perhaps, although they are generally in larger groups.
>
> Pygmy Killer Whale – perhaps, although not commonly seen in California and
> Baja.
>
> False Killer Whale – these were too small and the bottlenose would not have
> been nearby.
>
> Short-finned Pilot Whale – these were again too small to have been this
> species.
>
> Bottlenose which were all black???
>
>
>
> Any ideas?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dean
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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