2020 07-04 SB Channel
After our standard public whale watch, a second private excursion left the docks for a shorter time out in the Santa Barbara Channel. The day had a lot of dense, ground level fog with occasional patches of sun. Seas were mostly glassy but for one windy period in the afternoon for a while. Totals for the entire day included: 3000 long-beaked common dolphins, 1 giant blue whale, 300 offshore bottlenose dolphins and 1 humpback whale.
After a few medium and large pods of common dolphins on the early trip, a giant blue whale was found in an area near The Lanes where the sun had broken through the dense fog. It first came to the surface quite near the boat. It was a terrific tail-fluker.
On the second trip, there was a large persistent bait ball near the Summerland oil platforms that was under attack by seabirds, sea lions and common dolphins. We watched it going out and coming home. On the homeward encounter the dolphins were joined by an actively surface side-lunging humpback whale. It repeatedly attacked the northern anchovy school and was a tremendous sight to see.
After the first bait ball sighting we continued on an island heading and near The Lanes the Condor Express was located by a very large pod of extremely active and aerial offshore bottlenose dolphins. These “offshores” are always magical to be around.
After the second bait ball experience and humpback watching, we returned to the glassy and sunny waters of Santa Barbara.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and
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