2018 11-18 SB Channel Captain Tasha and her crew racked-up an amazing array of cetaceans with awesome sightings of each species. Totals for the trip included 4 humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, 15 inshore bottlenose dolphins, 35 Risso’s dolphins, and 30 Dall’s porpoise. Seas were calm and the water was very clear. Five different species of cetaceans were watched … Read More
Whales, common dolphins and offshore bottlenose dolphins
2018 10-11 SB Channel Although skies were covered by a gray marine layer for part of the trip, seas were absolutely calm and still. Captain Tasha and the crew took the Condor Express across the Santa Barbara Channel to the waters north of Santa Rosa Island. Closely watched encounters included 3 humpback whales, 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 75 California sea … Read More
Another Gaviota trip produces great sightings and fun.
2018 09-12 Western Channel A light marine layer burned off to become a gorgeous sunny day with very calm seas…ideal for wildlife searching and watching. Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express closely watched: 2 humpback whales, 12 coastal bottlenose dolphins, 2500 long-beaked common dolphins and over 200 California sea lions. This was a trip “out west,” covering … Read More
Humpback mom and calf plus thousands of dolphins
2018 09-07 SB Channel Captain Dave and his crew encountered another flat, calm day with a persistent marine stratus layer. Fortunately, the wildlife has been phenomenal, and today we saw 2 humpback whales, 3000 long-beaked common dolphins, 75 offshore bottlenose dolphins and 400 California sea lions. Near the NOAA mid-Channel buoy a gigantic megapod of common dolphins located the Condor … Read More
Three species of dolphins and whales too!
2018 09-05 SB Channel The fog monster hung around most of the morning and there was near zero visibility at times. Consequently, there was little or no wind and seas were flat calm and glassy. Don’t ask me how Captain Dave and his crew did it, but once again, despite fog, the wildlife sightings were very good. Closely watched species … Read More
Blue whales, fin whale, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins!
2018 07-17 SB Channel – East Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express closely watched 5 blue whales, 1 fin whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins and 15 offshore bottlenose dolphins. The trip today ran southeast down to the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island. Skies were gray in the morning and sunny soon after. Upon arrival at the … Read More
Two species of dolphins and a giant blue whale
2018 05-29 SB Channel A mill pond flat and glassy day made for wonderful cetacean sightings today. Skies had a high stratus layer except near Santa Cruz Island were patches of blue and sun were found. Sightings today included: 100 long-beaked common dolphins, 1 giant blue whale and 240 offshore bottlenose dolphins. Just outside the harbor entrance Captain Dave and … Read More
Last gray whale day features another mother and calf…plus dolphins!
2018 05-13 SB Coast Today we ran our last coastal whale watching trips for northbound migrating gray whales. Two trips left the docks at SEA Landing in Santa Barbara Harbor, one at 9 am and the other at noon. Captain Tasha and her crew were able to locate the following species: 400 long-beaked common dolphins, 2 inshore bottlenose dolphins and … Read More
Whale and dolphin interaction today.
2018 05-08 SB Coast Heavy fog, with near zero lateral visibility on the water, persisted from our exit of Santa Barbara Harbor until we ran west past the UCSB campus. Here the fog lifted to become a low stratus layer, but allowed for wildlife spotting on the water. Sightings for the day included 2 gray whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins … Read More
Over 100 cetaceans per hour today
2018 05-07 SB Coast These are the final few days of our annual northbound gray whale, coastal Santa Barbara excursions. Starting next Monday, May 14, we begin “Island Whale and Dolphin” trips that will depart SEA Landing at 10 am sharp and return approximately 230 pm. These trips run well out into the Santa Barbara Channel and, depending on sea … Read More