2018 10-27 SB Channel Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express ran across the channel to Santa Cruz Island finding patchy dense fog along the way. Sightings included: 25 Risso’s dolphins, 1000 long-beaked common dolphins, and 2 humpback whales. After a great look at 25 Risso’s dolphins, Dave worked along the face of the island and brought the …
A trip up to Gaviota reaps rewards
2018 10-26 SB Channel Dense fog was down to the deck in most of the Santa Barbara Channel, but Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express ran west until they broke free and had a wonderful day with the wildlife. Totals for the day included: a single humpback whale and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins. The Condor Express was …
Animated and friendly whales today…thousands of dolphins too
2018 10-25 SB Channel What a fabulous streak of flat, calm seas and sunny skies we have been experiencing these past couple of weeks. And so it was again today in the Santa Barbara Channel. Captain Dave and his crew located and closely watched 4 humpback whales and 2000 long-beaked common dolphins. Dave took the Condor Express directly south on …
Lots of humpbacks, loads of dolphins and a huge sunfish.
2018 10-24 SB Channel Blue skies and fair seas enhanced the closely watched 7+ humpback whales, 1000 long-beaked common dolphins and 1 ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Captain Dave and his crew transected the Santa Barbara Channel as far as the western end of Santa Cruz Island. The hotspot today was 6 – 8 miles offshore with all the whales in …
Lots of very active cetaceans
2018 10-21 SB Channel It was yet another fall classic with the Condor Express in the Santa Barbara Channel. Skies were sunny and seas were calm. Captain Tasha and her crew sailed south beyond the Carpinteria oil rigs and found lots of very active cetaceans. Sightings included 9 humpback whales and 300 long-beaked common dolphins. Humpback whales have a wonderful …
Tons of whales and dolphins including “Scarlet”
2018 10-20 SB Channel Sea conditions were off the hook and it was so clear we could see all 4 Channel Islands all day and from Bony Ridge to Point Conception too. “Off the hook” probably best describes our sightings as well. Closely watched cetaceans included 10+ humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins. Among the whales was one of …
Fantastic stuff! Whales jumping, porpoises zooming and thousands of dolphins, too.
2018 10-19 SB Channel Wow, what a string of great weather and sea conditions we’ve been experiencing in the Santa Barbara Channel this week! It was drop-dead gorgeous again today, with tons of wildlife to watch as well. Sightings included: 8+ humpback whales, 4 Dall’s porpoise, 2000 long-beaked common dolphins, and 1 elephant seal. Fantastic stuff. Captain Dave and the …
Humpbacks make a big fuss amidst thousands of dolphins
2018 10-18 SB Channel Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express worked the northwestern region of the Santa Barbara Channel today. Sightings included 3 (very active) humpback whales and 2000 long-beaked common dolphins. All the action took place about 8 miles out from El Capitán point. Seas were calm, skies were sunny and bright. Our first encounter was …
Two species of whales and over a thousand dolphins
2018 10-17 SB Channel We’ve had a great stretch of weather in the Channel and today was another nice one. It was sunny and it was calm. Captain Dave and his crew ran across the Santa Barbara Channel and ended up west of Santa Cruz Island. Total sightings included: 2 humpback whales, one Minke whale, and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins. …
An elephant seal, loads of whales, thousands of dolphins
2018 10-14 SB Channel Our adventure ran across the Santa Barbara Channel, stopping for wildlife, and ended up with a tour of the Santa Cruz Island sea cliffs. It was drop-dead gorgeous with bright sun and calm seas. Our sightings for the day included 9 humpback whales (more in the area), 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 400 short-beaked common dolphins and …
