[CINC] CX, 8/31/11

[John Kuizenga]

Hi All!

Here¹s the count from the CX, Tues 8/30/11

    Large Cetaceans ­ 0
    Small Cetaceans
        Risso¹s Dolphins ­ group 1 - 300, 30 juveniles
                                   group 2 -  100, 15 juveniles

        Common Dolphins ­ group 1 - 300 adults, 75  babies and juveniles
                                      group 2 - 400 adults, 100+ babies and
juveniles

    Sharks:  1 - 12¹ Basking Shark filter feeding on krill at the surface

    Pelagic Birds: Red and Red Neck Phalaropes, Sooty, Pink Footed and Black
Vented Shearwaters, Jaegers (Pomarine & Parasitic) Ashy
    Storm Petrels, N. Fulmars, Common Murre, Elegant and Common Terns,
Sabine¹s Gulls, Cassin¹s Auklets

Here¹s the story behind the count:  4-5 individuals elected to reschedule
following Mats Sea Landing meeting -  Bumpy seas right out of the harbor -
Headed WSW, higher (further north) than usual - Some feeling queasy half
hour out  - Encountered two sizable groups of Risso¹s, each with a small
juvenile contingent, some breaching, others surfing swells - Continued on to
34° 07,  120° 11 - Turned directly south here, toward SRI in search of the
big gals and guys on the 100 and 50 fa curves, however they were no shows -
Swell now  5¹ with a short period, winds steady at about 23 kts near SRI -
Queasy stomachs escalated to .......   -  Many seabirds noted on the trip,
thanks in part to two pelagic bird experts and Mat¹s reliable
identifications ­ The mystery was, no large cetaceans in evidence, despite
ample krill, optimal H2O temp. (low), plenty (like thousands) of krill
eating ³whale birds² (Mostly Red but some Red Necked Phalaropes) -  This
wasn¹t the case six/seven weeks ago when we had no lg. cetaceans for a week
-  Then the water temp. was high (relative), as was the chlorophyll level
(Dr. Libe Washburn, UCSB) - Highlight, rarely seen 12¹ (probably juvenile)
Basking Shark filter feeding on krill at the surface and changing directions
frequently, mouth agape ­ Continued east, parallel with the 100 fa curve
encountering two large groups of Common Dolphins, with much mating,
cavorting, many breaches followed by smacking back landings  - The
concentration of babies and juveniles was extremely high, in the
neighborhood of 25-40% of the populations respectively - Returned to port at
1500, with a group (approximately 70) pleased passengers.

Passengers from Europe, Scandinavia, Midwest, and two escapees (PA) from
Hurricane Irene¹s wrath

In spite of no whales and sick bay being well attended, all of those I
talked with had a very positive experience.

Crew:  Captain Mat, Dennis and Matt

Naturalist:  Leeza Price (formerly Charleboix) Congratulations on her on
recent marriage to Joe!  Always a pleasure to work with her
John Kuizenga on PID

John  
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