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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>A zillion common dolphins</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>cow/calf Blue whales</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>3 Humpbacks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>We learned early today that the CX was scheduled for a
1-5:30 trip today, so Don Gillies on PID, Bhrian Resnik and I went out
with 125 passengers in the afternoon. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Captain Dave told the passengers that it might be bumpy,
as the winds come up in the afternoons, and that we'd probably not get a chance
to visit Painted Cave because we were heading far west to find the Blue whales
and Humpbacks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>All the above happened, but the wind was not bad and
Captain Dave found plenty of marine mammals to delight our full
boat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>First we saw constant Common Dolphins on the way
out. There were three larger groups, but the dolphins were spread out all
along the channel crossing. Once in front of Santa Rosa Island, we found a
thin mom and much smaller Blue whale calf. We made the assumption that
this is a new calf and mom is thin due to nursing the calf. We stayed with
them for about 4 breathing cycles. It was interesting to note that the
baby was not diving with mom while she was feeding, he/she was just hanging
around waiting. The baby also had something attached to the area of the
dorsal fin, shaped like a tube, black and about 12" long. (?)...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>When we left the pair, we quickly located a pair of
Humpbacks. Another Humpback joined them on the second breathing
cycle. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>John Calambokidis was in the area with some other
reseachers and they were checking out the Blue whale cow/calf pair as we left
the area to return home.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Great day, thanks to Captain Dave, Jaques and
Amanda!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marilyn Dannehower</FONT></DIV>
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