Hello Naturalists,
Sightings: Two Gray whales
Leaving Ventura Harbor felt ominous due to large, muddy ocean swells which made
our hearts skip a beat as the boat crested, slowed, and then dropped! This
drama gave way to the typical greenish, calmer water in the Channel. The ocean
became calmer as we got further away from the mainland. Captain Jimmy took us
east and around Arch Rock and a couple of miles south of Anacapa. By this time
we were headed west towards Santa Cruz Island.
The boat continued west parallel SCI until we reached the Santa Cruz Channel,
where we started seeing a few Common dolphins on almost mirror-like waters.
Throughout the last 2 hours of the trip the drizzle would stop, the fog would
lift, and clouds would part just long enough for the sun to get through and
form delightful rainbows!! It was through the SC Channel that we came across a
small feeding frenzy of sea birds, dolphins, and sea lions … and finally, a few
minutes later, the Gray whales!! Two of them, heading slowly south, swimming,
diving and displaying flukes for over 15 minutes before disappearing. We
ourselves had to move on and return harbor. The return trip was fast but
relatively calm. Even the entrance to the harbor was easier than the ’take off’
had been only 3.5 hours before. Thank you Captain Jimmy and crew for finding
whales, seabirds, and awesome rainbows. Maria was Naturalist on the A.M. trip
only, nausea had taken a bit out of her.
Maria Ornelas
maria@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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