I was SO glad to get back out the water today looking for whales. I've been distracted with other trips (like a really cool trip to Catalina Island) and it was great to get the camera out again. No Blues for the last few days off of Long Beach, major bummer, but we have been seeing lots and lots of Common Dolphins, Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins, and Risso's Dolphins. I dig the pics above because they show the scratch marks, especially on the Risso's. These scratches or "rake marks" are from the dolphins rough-housing with each other. Only one trip today.

Sightings today:
500 Common Dolphins
20 Offshore Bottlenose Dolphins
30 Risso's Dolphins

Capt. Carl

 

 

 

It was really cool to find John Calambokidis from Cascadia Research and Erin Oleson from NOAA doing research on our Blue Whales today.

 

Sightings today:

4 Blue Whales

3 Humpback Whales

1 Minke Whale

600 Common Dolphins

 

Capt. Carl

 

 

We had Blues and dolphins on both trips again today. We also had a Humpack cruise through. What a great day on the water!

 

Sightings today:

11 Blue Whales

1 Humpback Whale

1100 Common Dolphins

12 Bottlenose Dolphins

 

Capt. Carl

 

 

 

 

Blue Whales and hundreds and hundreds of Common Dolphins on both trips today. The dolphins stole the show as you can tell by my pics.

 

Sightings today:

13 Blue Whales

1 Minke Whale

1100 Common Dolphins

 

Capt. Carl

 

I only was able to do one trip today, but we found a very strange Blue Whale today, looks like it's been injured sometime in the past. It was doing a great job feeding and diving today though.

 

Sightings today:

6 Blue Whales

1 Minke Whale

400 Common Dolphins

 

Capt. Carl

Lunge feeding Blue Whales, Fin Whales, and Minke Whales on BOTH trips today!

Today's sightings:

26 Blue Whales

3 Fin Whales

3 Minke Whales

400 Common Dolphins

6 Bottlenose Dolphins

I wonder what we'll find tomorrow...

Capt. Carl

So sorry I've neglected the blog, I had to work a couple late-night Captain jobs and fell asleep as soon as I came home. But, it has been a HUGE few days for Blues, Minkes, and Humpbacks! I am REALLY thankful to have such a fast boat! Today we were able to play with a dozen Blues off of Newport in the morning, then play with another 15 off of Palos Verdes in the afternoon! We've also had an increase in Humpbacks. They've been playing around the boat, lunge feeding, fluking, just...goofing off. So cool.

Sightings for 8-19-12

25 Blue Whales

7 Minke Whales

1000+ Common Dolphins

Sightings for 8-18-12

14 Blue Whales

1 Humpback Whale

800 Common Dolphins

Sightings for 8-17-12

7 Blue Whales

2 Humpback Whales

2 Minke Whales

750 Common Dolphins

Now, I'm going to sleep and enjoying a rare day off tomorrow.

Capt. Carl

Amazing experience today: a baby Blue Whale circled the boat repeatedly, even passing under us twice! So cool! At least 12 Blue Whales on BOTH trips today! Whales were everywhere around the boat.

Sightings today:

24 Blue Whales

1000 Common Dolphins

Strange, strange Humpback today hanging out with the Blues. It was breaching, tail slapping, pec slapping, and just having a great time. I'll leave the speculation about its appearance up to others... A second Humpback made a cameo, so did 1000 Common Dolphins.

Sightings today:

16 Blue Whales

2 Humpback Whales

1000+ Common Dolphins

6 Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins