[CINC] WW IPCO Islander 10Aug11

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

Another great day for finding and watching whales on the channel.

Cetacaens:
... 11 Humpbacks, 
... 8 Blues, (with many spouts of both, away and all around us), 
... 1103 (3, 200, 400 & 500) Common Dolphin

Birds:
... Pink Footed Pigeon Gillamonts
... Sooty Shearwaters 
... Brown Pelicans
... Cormorants
... Sabine's Gull 
... Marbled Murrelet
... Cassin's Auklet 

Pinnipeds:
... Several Sea Lions in and out around the Humpbacks and her and there all across the channel.

Shot of the day:
... One outstanding Blue Fluke, very high, full rear view, with underside colorations, slowly rising and descending. I would say it was the best fluke of a Blue I have seen in my five years on the Channel.  Just spectacular!! A big Ooohh and Auuhh went up as it cycled through it's one time showing.

Second best treat:
Two full breaches of a Humpback about a quarter mile ahead, with a pec slapping Humpback just a little bit closer. Both definitely visible to the eye, but a good bit far for a decent photo, if you were ready.

Foggy to overcast for most of the day, giving us calm seas all day, yet a few felt the queezzies or more.

Well beyond the last buoy and its resident family of Sea Loins wishing us fair seas, three Commons gave us a nice show, yet it was a good ways before we saw the next set of 200. This group was quite entertaining, as they usually are, with many babies in the mix.

Moving on, and on we came on the second set of commons and we played with them by running an "S" pattern in the sea for them to surf the wake. And surf the did, to the great joy of the folks on board.

Well beyond them, and off of Santa Rosa, now, we came on four Humpbacks off our starboard bow, just surfacing and quite obviously feeding. They lay there, taking in air before another dive to about 320 feet and a nice line of Krill. 

Then to our stern, two adult Blues popped up and were moving right along, yet cycling through there breathing time before diving, quite likely to the same Krill line. Then spouts were visible all over the place, Blues and Humpbacks.  Again we had the Humpback Blues show now in full display. Off in the distance was the Condor, stationary with their sitings. 

We did not need to move as we had quite a showing right were we were. Again, we had our choice of which ones to watch. We were there for a very long time as this show was in it for the duration. Toward the end of the time we had, before the need to move on, came the only Blue Whale Fluke, and what a beauty it was. Directly off our stern, several folks got themselves a very rare and classic fluke shot of a Blue. Rich in color, hight and slow duration, it just does not get any better than that.   

For this whole time we had many from which to choose. Finally it was time to move off and head for Painted Cave, cruising all along the beautiful cliff shores of Santa Cruz Island. Bird were out in full force as the overcast began to slowly lift. Painted cave was seemingly extra spectacular this day, for some reason the colors really came out. The folks got the usual treat of Captain Jimmy taking in far, far, far.

Coming out and making the turnaround, we were all surprised to see a Western Gull floating on the water, attempting to take a Pigeon Guillemot, right next to the boat. The Gull kept picking and grabbing the Guillemot it with its bill, as the Guillemot struggled ferociously to get free. This went on for some time, really about three or four minutes, but seemed for ever, as the Guillemot would seem to get away, and the gull would grab it again and attempt to drown it, again and again and again. Finally the little guy did get away and the Gull just seemed to be OK with it. Natures way, but we did not think that gulls went after smaller birds, rather fish is their main menu. (any info on this would be appreciated)  

On our return we came on the largest group of Commons and the folks were still thrilled to see the show.  

Over all, another very fine day of Whale Watching, the folks were quit satisfied.

We had folks from Chechoslovakia (spelling ??), Omaha, and many locals, enjoying this fine show of Cetacea at sea.

Captan Jimmy, Crew of Captain Michael and Jean, with the wonderful Debbie Shelley my side kick for the day. All did a fine job of interpretation, especially Captain Jimmy's and Jean's very informative narration across the day.

Gentle winds, mellow seas, and keep some fresh salt air near you, always.

Ken Tatro