[CINC] IPCo Islander WW Dec. 31

[Catherine French]

Scott Cuzzo and I had a very nice, no, great whale watching day. Here are the stats:
10 Orcas
3 grays
750 common dolphin

Morning trip: found one gray that flukes regularly south side AI. Then word came from Channel Islands Helicopter tours, they found Orcas from overhead. We went north toward East AI and there were four. They were eating a common dolphin. There were no other commons anywhere else to be found, so most of them had received the word! These four came near the boat and even did some bow riding with us. It was two adults, a calf and juvenile.

Afternoon trip: One gray south side AI and another zig-zagging toward the gap between ESCI and AI. Both showed many flukes.

Then on the north side of AI we found a mega pod of common dolphins and just a mile and a half toward the mainland the Vanguard said there were watching Orcas. So away we went and this time it was Cal. Sea lion on the menu. There were four then two more joined in. They came very near the boat and a large male then spy hopped! So fabulous.

Happy New Year all.

Scott, please correct anything you like!

Calm seas,

Catherine French

Writer, naturalist
Cfrench1366 at aol.com
805.570.0432

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