[CINC] Island Packers/Ventura Sat. 1/22/10

[Laura Shelton]

Sightings:AM Trip:500 Common Dolphins2 Gray whales
PM Trip1 Gray whale (breached 1 time)1000 Common Dolphins
Hello Naturalists!It was a extraordinarily calm day out on the Island Packers boat with Jimmy, Joel and Steve. There were very large swells at the entrance to the Harbor with big surf on the beach but conditions out in the Channel were very calm. 
AM trip: We had 72 guests who loved our time with a group of 500 common dolphins. Later on the South side of Anacapa, we followed 2 Gray whales at a distance of about 150 yards. We had great views due to the calm conditions. The trip to to visit the Sea Lions on the shores of East Anacapa was another highlight for our passengers.
PM trip: 35 guests joined us in the afternoon. The swell at the harbor seemed even larger. We found a lone gray whale at the East end of Santa Cruz Island just entering the Gap and it breached one time at the beginning of the sighting. After that it stayed away and was below the surface so much that we went in search of other wildlife. With waters so calm, it was easy to see all around and we did not see another whale as we circumnavigated Anacapa. 
We were called back to the Anacapa landing, quite unexpectedly toward the end of the trip, to pick up 8 grateful kayakers who had paddled over from the mainland and learned conditions on Sunday were not going to be optimal for the return to Oxnard. No boats were going to be available with such a forecast. They left kayaks, and tents to be taken down by Park rangers to get back with us. We found 1000 common dolphins on the way back which made our 35 very excited and we had a late return. 
Wonderful day out on the Channel. 
Laura Shelton




      
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