[CINC] IPCO Islander, AM, PM 14Jan'12

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi folks,

The mammal count:

6 Grays, 3 AM, 3 PM
3 megapods of Common Dolphins
	1500 AM
	1500 and 2500 PM

Weather was great, ideal WW day, very clear, see for miles, all day, with high overcast Clouds and some peek-a-boo sunlight. Water was slight ripple to glass all day. Makes for a very nice ride.

Both trips were loaded, did not get exact count, but folks form, Ontario, Canada, Washington, DC, NY, Fresno, Reseda, Ventura, Westlake, Northridge, Malibu and points beyond. A Cub Scout Pack from Simi Valley was on board on the afternoon run.

Am: Our presentation given and the Islander on its way, we were out and into the channel, meeting the first megapod(1500) about mid channel, to the great delight of the folks, and the camera were rolling. They were all over the place, some jumping grabbing big air, moms and babies the whole thing. Nice.

It took a little bit to come up with a Gray, but when we did it was off the north side of Anacapa after working the AI/SCI gap.  Then it was three together, maybe a mating group hard to say, even though there was some side rolling, tough to make the certain call on that. But that was just fine for the folks who just enjoyed it and many firing off their cameras with this fine photo op. Many a nice fluke were given with ooos and ahhhs abound.

PM: Similar start, presentation given, and we were again about mid channel with another megapod of the commons, this on about 2500, so the PM folks got similar treatment to their very delight. then the search was on for the grays. A small sail boat radioed in they they had see two near Platform Gail so we turned around and heeded to Gail. Yet a good search show no whales, so it was back out toward the AI/SCI gap, yet thignt was showing most any where. the afternoon was getting on, and the Cub Scouts were getting restless, because, for sure, we had "promised" to see the Whales and we had not seen any yet. 

Not finding any alone Anacapa, in his great wisdom, Capt Anthony decided to take us way east out of the channel. Time was closing in and it seemed we were heading for Malibu, in fact the folks from there thought, soon, we might be able to see their house.  Well, we were well east but not that far, for sure, and wouldn't you know it, Master Whale Finder Captain Anthony scored again, three Grays heading east near the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Tracking station. So late as it was we stayed on with three getting many a good look, and many a fluke were offered up for the folks. Cameras again were rolling.
AND, … our Cub Scouts were delighted, very happy, and we were acquitted from our feared failure to produce Whales to see.

Santa Barbara Island and Catalina were easily visible in the distance to the east from this position.

Running late we headed back in and into another fine megapod of commons (1500). 

It never gets old.

Captain Anthony, and crew of James and Joel did a fine job of it, both AM and PM, as did my intrepid fellow CINC Naturalist, Debbie Shelley (this time we were able to car pool, very cool)

Ken Tatro

	Gentle winds, mellow seas, and always,
	    	 … a fresh breath of salty air, ... to ya.