[CINC] Great day on Anacapa, Saturday, July 16

[Catherine French]

I am sure Debra Herring will send out a wrap up for CHIL (that's Channel Islands Live for the new CINCers). She also handled the sightings on the way over. We had several encounters with common dolphins in the channel, and seven bottle nose as we were leaving Channel Islands Harbor onboard the Vanguard.

Many Western gull chicks in flight school, testing out their new flight feathers. No really young chicks, they seem to be at least a month old. The adults have calmed down and no aggressive behavior was experienced today on the trails. Had 15 for the hike, folks from near and far with twenty campers on the island. One family of four from France had camped overnight and was enjoying the local nature. The mother asked why so many gulls? She thought maybe their habitats elsewhere were gone. With a bit of language difficulty that we worked through, she then understood about this being their season and this is an historic nesting ground for them. I explained that if she came in October it would be a lot quieter!

Weather spectacular here with great views all around. Debra did her usual fine job of handling topside duties for the CHIL, with Dave Began entertaining us on camera/audio, Josh Kaye-Carr doing a splendid job behind the camera, and Lorissa line tending. It was a perfect water day, about 65-68 degrees and clear and calm. If you haven't seen the live dive yet, get on over to the NPS headquarters where you can get the local feed each week Wednesday to STurday at 2:00p.m. I never tire of it, it's a feast for the eyes and Dave covers something new each time.





Calm seas,

Catherine French

Writer, naturalist, mentor
805.570.0432
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