Image: Condor Express tracks today. Red and orange spots = whales!
2024 12-06 SB Channel
After crossing the entire Channel through dense, zero-visibility fog, Captain Dave reported ideal sunny and glassy conditions south of The Lanes. (See today’s image). Sightings for the day included: 8 humpback whales and 50 California sea lions.
All of the action took place at the aforementioned location south of The Lanes adjacent to the Santa Cruz Channel. Spouts and a nice category BS2 birdnado led us to a trio of surface feeding whales. There was plenty of dramatic lunge feeding and everyone had great looks.
Another pair came into the zone and hooked up with a singleton to form another humpback trio. Another birdnado formed and more surface feeding occurred.
About 1 mile southwest a final pair of humpbacks with yet another active bird feeding going on.
Throughout our sightings at this hot spot we were followed by a nice mob of at least 50 California sea lions that were diving and enjoying the same food source as the whales and birds: northern anchovies!
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Wow, what an incredible experience! After battling through that dense fog, it must have felt amazing to finally be greeted by sunny, calm conditions. I can only imagine the thrill of spotting those 8 humpback whales and the lively Level Devil California sea lions.
Dramatic escape from the fogbank that opened up into a magical world of Humpbacks, Sea Lions and birds feeding on schools of anchovies!