[CINC] R/V Shearwater trip May 18

[Catherine French]

Had the pleasure to go out on the Shearwater on Saturday to Scorpion, with 27 teachers and middle school essay winning students from Ventura County schools.  The essay was regarding watershed, waterways and oceans. An area of study in their curriculum.

The students were most amazing to be onboard and to hike with. Their questions were thoughtful and it was obvious they not only listened to what was going on during the day, they have a zest for knowledge.

We left the NPS dock in VTA harbor at 9:00 a.m. The male Steller sea lion we have been seeing recently was perched on the sound buoy. He was a hit with all onboard.

Mid-channel we saw a feeding frenzy of birds, mostly western gulls, hundreds of common dolphins and a huge bait ball. Here we launched a plankton net for a vertical tow to look at later on the trip. Just before disembarking on the island, a Cal sea lion visited us, good time to discuss difference between sea lions and seals.

Once on the island, we hiked the Cavern Point loop counter clock wise, starting near the V C. Right away we found a foraging fox, and later on the bluff part of the trail we encountered our second fox romping through the annual grasses. On the way back to the pier another fox was found resting under a huge lemonade berry bush!

Back on board, we saw a mature harbor seal in the cove and mid channel we found another or the same feeding frenzy of birds, dolphins and...a mature humpback lunge feeding within 100 feet of the boat. We all got great looks of this beautiful creature. A fabulous day for all. Thanks to NOAA's Julie Bursek and Dani Lipinski for the opportunity. And, RESTORe grant. All about oceans for life.


Calm Seas,
Catherine French
Writer, mentor, naturalist
805.570.0432
To have us to own, to share is to enjoy.

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