The scene at Counter Point was considerably different from what we have become used to through eleven surveys of the northbound migration of Gray whales through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel.

Certainly, previous to today, the biggest transformation for us was the implementation of the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area is 2012: the Marine Protected Area in front of us where all the action takes place. On this day, the action was largely reaction to the Refugio oil spill, which has apparently made it way to the Coal Oil Point Reserve.

An armada of ships designed to provide disaster relief, aided by vessels that normally harvest the bounty of fish in this ocean, and guided by helicopters, to surface oil surrounding the vulnerable world of kelp, where two hours earlier, a Gray whale mother and calf hurriedly snuck by as Counters tallied of 246th calf of 2015.

Amidst the oil and turmoil, Bottlenose dolphins search for dinner ...

For updates on the oil spill: check this link to the Independent.

Gray whales northbound (all) 2 | Calves 1 — 2015 Count 1418 | 246

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