2018 11-08 SB Channel Once again crystal clear, cobalt blue, water and calm seas prevailed in the central Santa Barbara Channel. Closely watched species and numbers included 10 humpback whales, 2000 long-beaked common dolphins, and a whale that went berserk with a long episode of kelping. Not long after departing the harbor and stopping for mandatory sea lion viewing on …
2018 11-07 SB Channel West It was a nice sunny day in the Santa Barbara Channel, the surface was glassy but with a little bit of bump from winds far to the west. Sightings included 7 humpback whales, 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 100 California sea lions and 1 research Saildrone. An interesting surprise visit took place just before the boat …
Scarlet, a bunch of whales and over 1000 dolphins.
2018 11-04 SB Channel Captain Tasha and her crew ran a southwesterly course and ended up about 8 miles south of UCSB. It was glassy, calm and sunny all day. Total sightings included 5 humpback whales and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins. We encountered and watched Scarlet again, among the other whales today. Scarlet and her friend were the first whales …
We once again found Scarlet and a sailing research drone.
2018 11-03 SB Channel Marvelous conditions prevailed throughout the western Santa Barbara Channel: no wind, clear skies and warm sun. Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express closely watched 8 humpback whales, 2000 Long-beaked common dolphins, and one very unusual sailing research drone! Among the whales, we once again found Scarlet. As we moved west, and a few …
5 humpbacks and one breached twice…plus dolphins
2018 10-28 SB Channel Patchy fog in the early morning had cleared to bright blue skies for the duration of our excursion into the Santa Barbara Channel today. Captain Tasha and the crew of the Condor Express headed south towards Santa Cruz Island, but were stopped by wildlife from north of The Lanes and west to the mid-Channel NOAA buoy. …
Curious twist on friendly humpback behavior
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 …