Gray Whale Census Update, Pt. Vicente: THIRTY-SEVEN GRAY WHALES, including a huge pod of twelve! Multiple sightings joined, milled, and separated, causing lots of confusion as we tried to accurately count and track them. One whale SPYHOPPED right next to Whale Rock. As another gray whale milled, a nearby small boat caused it to disappear for a while. Some slow-moving whales took an hour to pass us. A huge pod of at least 12 grays swam about five miles offshore; we watched them for an hour and twenty minutes before we could positively identify them as gray whales, since we needed to use spotting scopes i order to see their backs and flukes. Many FIN WHALES moved through our field of view, adding to our confusion; one was about a mile offshore, but most were further away in the Redondo Canyon. We also spotted COMMON DOLPHIN, BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN, and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN.
