The upside-down grin may be because the calf sees that he or she is heading the wrong way, or, perhaps that is a very happy Gray-whale expression, playing chase with mom.

This was a big day for moms and calves: nine pairs. Two of the afternoon pairs arrived together and had to jog around a group of kayakers. They separated for about a mile and then traveled on together past Ellwood towards Naples Point to the west.

The trailing pair looked like two lumps of Gray whale, passing Counter Point, inside the kelp.

Gray whales northbound (all) 18 | Calves 9 — 2015 Count 1027 | 055

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