Hello CINCers: Onboard the Ranger 85 yesterday, we had a very different kind of
whale watch.
2 north (or west) bound mature gray whales
3 basking sharks feeding
The gray whales weren't particularly active but great to watch and we did see
fluking from both. They were traveling westward between platform Gina and Gail
at about 4 mph.
Then the basking sharks showed up and we could see their mouths open as they
skimmed just beneath the surface for plankton. They were all about 30 feet
long. Two had bites out of their dorsals.
Passengers got the most enjoyment from watching the sharks!
Thanks to Capt. Robert, crew Josh and Chef Paul. And, happy to have two new
volunteers out with me, Fran and Perry. They learned to do a paper sighting
report as part of the shadow. Visitors from Anchorage, Pennsylvania, Phoenix,
and SoCal.
Calm Seas,
Catherine French
Writer, mentor, naturalist
805.570.0432
We are given only so many days, make each one count.
