[CINC] IPCO Islander, 1SEPT11

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

Another beautiful and different day on the Channel and beyond.

Cetacaens:
… 1 Humpback, 
... 6 Blues, (with spouts of others, away and around us), 
... 2600 (800, 1000 & 800) Common Dolphin

Birds:
... Pink Footed Shearwaters
... Sooty Shearwaters
... Sabine’s Gulls
... Brown Pelicans
... Cormorants
... Phalaropes 

Pinnipeds:
... Many Sea Lions (on the last buoy out of the harbor and scattered across the trip)
… 1 Stellers Sea Lion (on the last buoy out of the harbor)

Shots of the day:
… 2 nice Blue Whale tail flukes and pectoral fin wave on a side roll and lunge)

The trip started off very usual, we giving our presentation, Captain Anthony giving his safety talk, and a stop at the outer buoy to view the sea Lions. Fair warning was given for a good bumpy ride later to the 20 folks on this intimate run.

Heavy overcast to fog on the water as we headed toward the SCI/SRI gap.  Four to five Commons came by, then a much larger pod of 800 with many babies were in this group, more so that usual, to the great delight of the folks. We hung with them for a good bit, enjoying the show. 

Going further we came on a much larger group of commons (the 1000) and idled down to take them in. Again Many many babies were all over the place. This time we had some of the Commons jumping as well as their usual boat chasing antics. The folks were, again, very pleased to say the least. 

Soon we came on our first (and only) Humpback of the day, a juvenile quite likely feeding, as its down time was longer that usual. Nice fluke shots were offered as well as rather close in blows.  While there, and as the fog lifted a bit, we could see the Condor well off in the distant horizon. Talking with Condor's Captan Mat, it had two Humpbacks there. So we thought about moving toward them, when we had word from IPCO's Island Adventure, taking folks to Santa Cruz, they had two Blues at the east end of Santa Cruz. 

This being a Blue Whale Watch, a nice turn to port and we were off east to hook up with the Island Adventure, and the Blues. Of course, by our arrival, they had gone. Further word from a commercial fishing boat and a dive boat at Anacapa, they had sited two Blues very near AI.  Moving further east we headed to AI close in, with nice views of the north the side of West and Middle Islets of AI as well of East AI. Nearing Landing Cove and the two boats calling in the sitings, again no Blues were to be found. A nice quick look at AI Arch rock and the huge crashing waves filling the arch completely and more, we did a U turn out further into the Channel to do a second sweep of the area for these elusive cetacea.

Mind you, dispute the beautiful crashing waves, due to the large southern swell up from New Zealand and parts south, the seas were very calm to glassy, … so far.

We then swept AI going west and now would go for the gap of AI/SCI. Nothing yet, with one humpback and some commons on the books, and the day looking a bit grim now, we headed on out south of AI toward the sea mount area.  Nothing!! On we went, well into the out back some 10 miles. ... then a blow!! A bit breezy, not sure, but we thought it to be a Blue. Onward and on approach, sure enough, a Blue and then another. A nice pair of Blues, … Captain, "Eagle Eye," Anthony had done it again. These two were feeding and yet moving along a bit, with good down times, and after telling the folks the flukes were not probable with the Blues, of course, they gave us a couple of very nice flukes.

Then there were more blows back toward AI, Blues again, feeding again.  One, then a short bit later one more, then two more moving very fast and feeding at the same time, while heading back toward the Channel. This is were you get a great view of these sleek animals and how easily they glide through the water, as if in a slip stream. A fast moving two car train of Blues forward lunge feeding all along the while booking it toward the Channel. Soon they slowed, just a bit, to roll on their sides with their seemingly small pectoral fin high in the air, white underbelly showing and half fluke, Orca slicing the sea not far behind, yet still moving at a great speed. An amazing show of their horizontal lung feeding skills, and pushing that great sleek mass through the water as if it were nothing but air.

By now it is hard on 16 bells (4 PM) and we are well into the out back of the Channel, time to head home with a great treasure of great looks at the great Whales of the planet doing their thing in their own habitat, the great oceans of our precious Earth.

Funny enough, all day, even in the far out back, the seas were flat with only a slight showing of a swell as we crossed the Channel, but you had to look for it. 

Yes, it WAS another fine day on the Channel and beyond.

Folks on board were from Idaho, Utah, Fresno, LA, Santa Barbara, and one from as far away as, Ventura. 

Thanks to Captain Anthony, Crew of Zac and Daniel of IPCO, and the ever intrepid Debbie Shelley, my Naturalist Corp side kick, who kept the log tight, we all endured another hard day at sea.

Gentle winds, mellow seas, and keep some fresh salt air near you, always.

Ken Tatro 

 
 

   

  
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