Warm, no wind, and wonderful sightings ...

The south outpointed the northbounds 9 to 8, and the one-whale difference was a southbound calf with mom. We don’t see many southbound calves. Those that we see, are born above Point Conception, in California. Our state marine mammal, the Gray whale, usually just passes by and waves a tail fluke on the way to Mexico. Most of the Eastern Pacific Gray whales are Mexican whales. This, however, is a California Gray whale.

We like that the mother apparently chose to take her calf south along the route she would (or will) bring her calf north, perhaps in April or May ...

We are hoping to see them again and add them to the Count board.

They hung out over the lunch hour. We saw both surface draped in milk.

As they started to slip away east, a lobster-fishing boat was headed west. It was not clear where the whales were in relation to the approaching vessel. It became abundantly clear when mom breached just in front of the oncoming boat in an effort to shield her calf. She was successful, and she likely scarred the hell out of those on the boat, which managed a pretty quick stop. One of our Counters said her adrenalin was really pumping, which was probably nothing compared to the boat driver.

In the afternoon, we saw more whales in both directions, a few Bottlenose dolphins, a few hundred Common dolphins, and Harbor seals.

Gray whales northbound (all) 8 | Calves 0 — 2015 Count 064 | 000

Hours 8:00