[CINC] IPCO Islander, 15 Sept12

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi Folks, 

The stats:

6 Humpbacks
2 Minkes
Common Dolphin (several small pods)

Brown Pelican
Sooty Shearwater
Pigeon Guillemot
Pink Footed Shearwater
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Western Gull
Wilson's Phalarope

With a mix of whale watchers and island hikers/campers on board we headed out into what was supposed to be a fairly windy and bumpy day. Fresh out of the harbor, we felt the swell immediately, as Captain Anthony slowed the Islander to a more comfortable speed and headed west not too far from shore. Target zone, off of Carpinteria a good bit, where sitings were made the day before. 

In rout, we encountered the first of several small pods of Common Dolphin, and paused to take them in, a scouting pod and happy to give a nice hello. 

Later, arriving on seen for the whales, we were not disappointed, as one, then two more popped up, including one of our favorite Lady Cetacea, Rope. Looking healthy as ever, she and her friends gave us some very good looks and nice flukes. We let Condor Express know of our find, and in a while they arrived to take over the siting as we headed for Santa Cruz and Prisoners Harbor to drop off our Hiker folks. 

Not long after that we encountered another pair of Humpbacks, again showing nice looks and a few flukes for the folks. Then one more a bit later, we were well served by the Humpbacks.  

On to Prisoner's Harbor, drop off the hikers and campers and we were off to cruise Santa Cruz Island, visit Painted Cave both of which were very nice on this clear day.

Then we ventured out to seek the Blues in the usual grounds off of the SCI/SRI gap. We were seeing the afternoon winds, many white caps and no signs of Blues. Time to head toward Port and see if we could find the whales off of Carpinteria once again. Along the way a pod of Commons were in fast movement, but they were nice enough to give a good bit of their time of day. We hung with them for a nice amount of time.

Needless to say the folks were delighted with all the sitings, and now settled in for the ride back.

After a good amount of time Whale!! This time it was of a different breed, a Minke, who hung around for a reasonable show, several breathing cycles, very unlike the usual skittsy behavior of booking outta here when a WW boat comes on scene. Very nice in deed. 

Then another Minke popped up, it too stayed a little bit, not quite as much as the first, but for a couple of breathing cycles and very good looks for the folks. 

Moving on to our original target area, and yes, we came onto another pair, and, .. uh Oh, it is Rope, again, with her friend of the day. So even though this makes a siting count of 8 Humpbacks the fact that these were the same ones we saw in the morning, we give here, as the official count, at 6 Humpbacks. They did get logged into the siting sheet, however.

SO!! Another fine day for folks from near and far, Ventura, Oxnard, an ecology class form Cal State Channel Islands, Victorville, and Seattle was represented, as well as a coupe from Germany.

Captain Anthony, with crew of Tommy and Luke did their usual fine job of taking care of the folks, narrating and keeping the boat on a level keel.  Dee Dee, of Island Packers, took the Hikers and campers onto shore at Prisoner's Harbor.

Naturalist, Karen Sullivan was my sidekick for the day, doing her usual fine job of chatting it up with the folks and keep the siting log squared away.

Ken Tatro