[CINC] Condor X 1/4/11

[Paul Jr. Petrich]

Ahoy Volunteers, Yesterday Captain Matt took the Condor out with 22 passengers: a diverse group from locals to tourist from the UK; Australia; Poland; and our Midwest. Seas were relatively calm, and visibility about 20 miles on a nice day. Gary Delanoeye joined me as regular interpreters, and Don Gillies did the Photo ID. We were able to saturate our captive small group with info, on top of the expert narrative given over the mike by both Matt and Dave. Dennis and new deckhand Laurie filled out the crew. Starting about half way out to The Gap between SCI and SRI we encountered two separate small pods of bow riding Dall's Porpoise (about 5 each). In the NW sector of the Gap, we sighted 3 southerly migrating Grays who dove continuously, displaying their flukes every time. Capt Matt surmised that two males were courting a female. Later, as we approached Painted Cave, we sighted one more less than a mile off shore SCI.  On the way home we came across another 2 Dall's. Closer to Santa barbara we were entertained by a small group of Common Dolphine. As we sighted many, many sea lions far out from shore, we had plenty opportunity to explain the difference between sea lions and seals, as well as between dolphin and porpoise. Everyone aboard seamed very happy with the outing, except our youngest passenger, a 5 year old Polish child. His Mom had translated my promise to him that we would see more sea lions, or seals ( he was to determine which) on the buoy as we approached the harbor. But their were non there!   One interesting sighting in the Gap, was a flock of hundreds of Cormorants floating lazily on the calm sea surface with no interest in feeding or flying what-so-ever. Myself, Gary, and Don all had never seen such a display of contented birds on any of our sea travels.     Paul 		 	   		  
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