2019 05-18 SB Channel
Although closed to the public due to a private charter, many Condor Express fans may like to know what’s going on “out there.” So here is the report. Skies were overcast all day. Sightings were great. Totals for the day included: 6+ humpback whales, 700 long-beaked common dolphins, and over 100 California sea lions.
A major, 2 mile long, hot spot was encountered just a few miles south of UCSB. As Captain Dave said (paraphrasing), every known species of local sea bird was there diving and feeding and putting on a fuss. Sea lions were also mixed in the frenzy, as was a single humpback whale. The bait ball was in shallow water but invisible from the surface. The whale kicked up its tail flukes regularly.
Continuing onward towards the west end of beautiful Santa Cruz Island, another single whale was watched. It was a large whale with pure white pectoral fins (see photo).
South of The Lanes, we came upon a region loaded with whales. There may have been 8 or more in the area, of which we closely watched 4 of them. A very large whale breached and this was “echoed” by a whale over a mile in the distance. Our big whale also threw its might tail.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
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