Wildpics

Shortly after sunrise we headed over to the mangroves, a sub-tropical forest habitat that is an important breeding area for fish, shellfish and several birds.
 
One of the first birds we saw was a male Red-breasted Merganser. More typical of the salt marsh habitat, and near the northern limit of their Pacific range, were a Tricolored and Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 
 
Soon we were hearing the melodic, whistled song of the Mangrove Warbler. Aside from the White Ibis, Reddish Egret and other many wonderful birds that were seen, we all enjoyed the tranquility of the place. Near the high tide peak, dozens of waders roosted at the edge of the salt marsh, many photographs were taken of Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher 
and Willet.
 
Although there are fewer whales in the lagoon than in most years, the ones here were very friendly. Often it is just the calf that comes close to us as if it has a “child-like” curiosity about the world.  However, near the mouth of the lagoon we saw a calf rolling over its mother’s back and the large whale came very close to our boats.
 
In the afternoon we encountered more mother-calf pairs along with Great Northern Divers, Surf Scoters, American Oystercatchers and many other birds. One calf seemed to delight in surfing a wave, carrying the name California Gray Whale to an extreme.  
 
As we motored through the narrow channel and back to the open ocean we saw the last Gray Whales, a flight of pelicans, backlit by the late afternoon sun, flew alongside us and an Arctic Skua moved across the bow.