I took a group of non birding whale watchers offshore Saturday.
Black-vented Shearwaters: 300 plus. Most in smaller groups of 10 or less and scattered all the way from the outer edge of the kelp line to the innner edge of the “Nine Mile Bank.”
Bonaparte’s Gulls: 6 .
Common Murre: 1 just outside the kelp bed.
Xantus’ Murrlets: 2 pairs, both inside the “Nine Mile Bank.”
Cassin’s Auklets: 60+ were on the outside edge of the “Nine Mile Bank.” Some so full of krill they were unable to fly.
Rhinoceros Auklets: 50+, most closer to shore than the “Nine Mile Bank,” with one inside the kelp bed. Seen singly and small groups of up to 6.
Parasitic Jaeger,: 1 seen on the water, mid ship channel, inside Point Loma.
It was a very nice day for whale viewing, with 13-15 southbound gray whales, 3 very friendly fin whales, on the outer edge of the “Nine Mile Bank.” We also saw a small pod of risso’s dolphin (5-6), on the outer edge of the “Nine Mile Bank.” Common Dolphin where all over the area, with 10+ pods (or maybe just one large widely scattered pod) for a total of 150+ animals. Calif. sea lions (40+) rounded out our marine mammals.
Cool, partly to mostly cloudy, calm to light east breeze, great visiblity (we could see San Gorgonio Mtn to the north, and San Clemente Island to the west, from the “Nine Mile Bank.”). Sea surface temps were 56.8 to 58.9
Dave Povey, Dulzura, CA
