[CINC] Shadow whale watch aboard Condor Express 4/10/11

[Catherine French]

Before leaving the harbor each trip we sighted three harbor seals! 

A.M.: young lone gray whale north west of Hendry's beach.
Twenty or so common dolphin
Six Dall's porpoise

Noon: lone young gray, probably same one offshore of UCSB in 25 feet of water with distinctive barnacle and lice patterns
More Dall's porpoise
One large mola mola
Three humpbacks mid channel near west end Santa Cruz

We first saw two humpbacks that became very boat friendly. One gave us several close up views of his rostrum so we could almost touch the tubercles! Lots of flukes and real close views.

When Capt. Matt turned toward shore, the third whale popped up, we had only a brief encounter as we were late to the dock.

Tamara shadowing from our humpback pod; Barbara LaCorte as PID with her four pod members Bruce, Kate, Debbie and Kelly; Brian Resnik as other naturalist. Crew Dennis and Matt.

Great day on the water.




Calm seas,

Catherine French

Writer, naturalist, mentor
Cfrench1366 at aol.com
805.570.0432

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