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 … Read More
A nice trip to Santa Rosa Island results in great whale sightings
2018 10-10 SB Channel Captain Dave and his crew ran across the entire Santa Barbara Channel to locate wildlife today. Skies were covered by a high cloud layer, but seas were flat and calm. Totals included 6 humpback whales, 700 long-beaked common dolphins and 75 California sea lions. On our trip out several large pods of dolphins located the Condor … Read More
Humpbacks, dolphins and sea lions on a sunny day in the Channel.
2018 10-06 SB Channel Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express searched the Santa Barbara Channel and came up with a great trip full of wonderful sightings. 1000 long-beaked common dolphins, 2 humpback whales and 50 California sea lions were closely watched today. The day was sunny but included a moderate bump and swell. The first groups of … Read More
Three humpback whales, one breacher…and more
2018 09-27 SB Channel Captain Dave ran a bit west, then out to the south. Most of the action was only about 4 miles off Campus Point. Skies were mostly overcast with a moderate breeze. The sun came out late in the trip. Sightings for the day included: 1 Minke whale, 3 humpback whales, 800 long-beaked common dolphins and 50 … Read More
Mother humpback and her calf go berserk.
2018 09-25 SB Channel Overcast skies stayed with us most of the day until we got on the hotspot out near Santa Rosa Island. Seas were calm in the north Channel and a little breezy in the south. Sightings for the day included: 2 humpback whales, 1500 long-beaked common dolphins, 100 Risso’s dolphins and about 500 California sea lions. There … Read More
A mother humpback and her calf plus so much more.
2018 09-23 SB Channel – West A private whale watch charter hit the jackpot as a wide region of scattered humpbacks and dolphins kept everyone busy with binoculars and cameras. There was a broken stratus layer that gave way to more sun than cloud around 1130 am. The sea surface was calm and mostly glassy. The action took place northeast … Read More
Humpbacks get into a feeding frenzy with dolphins and sea lions.
2018 09-22 SB Channel Today’s excursion took us to the western coastal region near Platform Holly, then on a big loop out past the mid-Channel NOAA buoy before heading home. A deep marine layer and mill pond glass surface persisted until 130pm, and then it got sunny with a slight breeze. Most of the action took place from Holly and … Read More
A massive and active hot spot in the north Channel
2018 09-21 SB Channel The northern Santa Barbara Channel (that portion closest to Santa Barbara Harbor) exploded with whales, dolphins and sea lions today. They were joined by thousands of elegant terns, black-vented shearwaters, phalaropes, gulls, pelicans and a few jaegers. It was the most massive and active hot spot that I can recall in this region of the Channel. … Read More
Spectacular day with 9 humpbacks, plus both long- and short-beaked common dolphins.
2018 09-20 SB Channel Captain Dave summed it up: “There was never a time today when we were not involved in wildlife viewing.” That’s what you get when you have sunny skies and a glassy ocean surface alongside a wonderful wildlife invasion. Totals for closely-watched species included 9 humpback whales, 3000 long-beaked common dolphins, 1500 short-beaked common dolphins, and 250+ … 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