With observation quality rapidly deteriorating, a “little squirt” surfaces on the shore-side of mom as the pair travels just outside the kelp past Counter Point.

Our day started with a rush: a pair right in front of us as we were setting up, and another pair was charging along the Isla Vista kelp as we handed out binoculars. There was some confusion, but happy to say that images proved the first sighting was one pair, with the second group two pairs. Nice work Counters!

After another mother/calf pair, in rapid succession, we sighted Bottlenose dolphins very close, in the surf; two Humpback whales way outside towards the horizon; and two enthusiastic groups of sea lions, with about forty Pacific White-sided dolphins heading west.

Then, as we noted our first white-caps, we counted two more cow/calf pairs, and, our last pair in what had become too much wind to continue.

There were no Harbor seals or Sea otters.

Gray whales northbound (all) 14 | Calves 7 — 2016 Count 993 | 88

Time Counting: 3h 49m

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