[CINC] Today on the Condor Express - July 26, 2011

[Rose Messina]

Sightings:		100 Common Dolphins	
			5 Blues, including one mother and calf
			6 Humpbacks, including one mother and calf
			1000 Common Dolphins

We headed toward E Santa Rosa Island and encountered a huge fog  
bank.  Visibility was nearly nil for a time, but the sky cleared  
giving us good visibility for the rest of the trip.   A few of the  
Blues gave us  good a good show, staying on the surface and showing  
their entire bodies--but no flukes.  The humpbacks made several  
friendly approaches, with some vocalization and great flukes.  The  
dolphins almost stole the show!  They surrounded the boat, played a  
bit, began to leave, but returned and stayed with the boat long  
enough to give everyone a thrill.

We also had some special passengers:  two California Sea Lions who  
had been rescued by CIMWI (Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute).
***The first was a female two-year old rescued June 18 at Rincon  
Parkway with a large abscess on her right hind quarter.  While in  
captivity she ate 7 pounds of fish daily and gained 10 pounds.
***The second was a male two-year old rescued June 15 at Surfers'  
Point with a large abscess on his right fore flipper.  He ate 10  
pounds of fish daily and gained 10 pounds in rehab.
They were released with the other sea lions west of Painted Cave.   
One three-year old summed it up:  "The girl jumped in and swam to her  
friends.  The boy had to be pushed and swam away from the land."

We had 97 passengers from Denmark, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands,  
Sweden, Nebraska, Arizona, Alaska, New York, California, Oregon and  
California.

Thanks to Captain Dave and crew for another fine day on the water!

Rose Messina, Deb Clark, Gary Sullivan PID