[CINC] Saturday on the Condor Express

[Laura Shelton]

Hello Naturalists
9ami Humpback50 Common Dolphins
John KuzengaNew Naturalists:George and Marta
12noon1 Cow/ Calf pair (2 Gray whales)5 Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins
John KuzengaCarol Celic- Photo IDNew Naturalists with John:Marta and Rose
3pm1 Cow/Calf of Gray whales Pair (a different one)3 Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins
Barbara LaCorteCarol CelicNew Naturalists with Barbara: Cate, Cary, Debbie and Bruce
Migrating Loons-Many esp during the 9am tripMigrating Brants-a lot less esp during the 3pm trip
Crew:Mat, Dave and Brooke
Details:Excellent day on the water with some wind out in the Channel. We faced our strongest winds in search of humpback whales in the 9am trip and found a lone humpback who came up relatively close to the boat. We had seen 50 common dolphins on the way out. 
Because of winds, we went in search of gray whales on the noon trip and experienced some close encounters with 5 Bottlenose dolphins first, near Goleta Pier and then on the beach just past Coal Oil Point and Michael Smith and his counters, we spent time watching a cow/calf pair. They had approached/or were approached by a small motor boat when we arrived. Then they seemed to go backwards and toward shore (NE) and stopped. The calf was rolling around and spy hopped and showed its head several times. We enjoyed watching them for quite some time. They were very close to the shore. Conditions We headed out a bit further on the way back in search of other marine mammals. 
Our 3pm trip was a similar route from our 12 noon trip. We found another Cow-Calf pair with another boat near them. They were traveling. The other boat left and we traveled with them for a while. We found them prior to Goleta Point and traveled with them to Coal Oil Point.On the way home, we went a bit further out int the Channel, again in search of other marine mammals and ended up finding the coastal Bottlenose right near the entrance to the Harbor. They came up close to the boat and we all enjoyed some good lucks. 
Thanks, 
Laura Shelton
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