A birthday trip to Monterey Bay turned into two unforgettable whale watches, incredible pelagic birding, Dall's Porpoises at the bow, and one captain who made an already amazing day even better.

A whale watching trip just off the Orange County coast delivered breaching Humpbacks, Ocean Sunfish, seabirds, dolphins, and a reminder that incredible wildlife adventures can happen surprisingly close to home.

I had settled onto the beach with a book when a Gray Whale appeared just beyond the sand. For nearly half an hour, it rolled through the shallow water close enough for us to see its eye.