Sites of the day: Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, Whales on the Net

Sight of the day: Juan Carlos, our naturalist, thrilled and excited, "The whale pooped!" as he runs for his specimen net.

Runner-up sight of the day: Michelle, the deckhand, racing around the deck shrieking, "It's a Brown Booby!" (These birds are very very rare in Alta California. Or what were YOU thinking?)

Revelation of the day: Whales are really, really big.

Runner-Up revelation of the day: whales have really, really terrible bad breath!

Second runner-up revelation of the day: Humpback Whales have bright red poop.

Conversation of the day:
Rich: "How did you know I would take a nap?"
Jan: "How long have we been married?"

     
Humpback Whale, and Blue Whale. We saw about 30 of the former and 4 individual blues, but many sightings. They looked like these pictures, though I can guarantee mine will not be as good. (Pictures from the National Audobon Society Nature Guide to the Pacific Coast.) We saw a blue lift its tail as it sounded, which is, they say, a rarity. We also saw two Mola molas (would that be Mola mola mola mola?), Ocean Sunfish.

Meanwhile, Rich saw some women playing volleyball, so he had a good time as well.

What a great birthday present!!