Ditto-day: time counting (8 hours); weather (heat, haze, no wind), seas (flat calm, clear water), number of whales (12, including a half-dozen calves). We did see our otter again, in the IV kelp, and we saw three pinnipeds (not including California sea lions). The exception, today was there were two Harbor seals and one — unusual sighting for us — young, Northern fur seal.

Like yesterday, some whales traveled outside the kelp, some along, and some through. All were, again, mother/calf pairs.

The image above looks rather normal and calm. The mother/calf pair, just off the kelp, and the large, work boat, Danny C, is a couple hundred meters outside the whales. Apparently mom thought that was a bit close. Less than a minute earlier, the pair speeded up considerably; they dove; a bubble blast appeared; mom fluked; then leaped into the air in what was probably a show-of-strength warning on her part.

She had set her limit, She then seemed OK with the boat and they traveled on.

Well inside the oil platform, the calf tooted its horn for good measure.

Gray whales northbound (all) 12 | Calves 6 — 2016 Count 930 | 057

Time Counting: 8h 0m

Let’s keep this Good Thing Going ... Please help with a donation.