2021 09-16 SB Channel
Seas were calm and flat. No wind was felt all day. Skies had a high, gray, stratus layer. Sightings were phenomenal, and included: 17 humpback whales, 5000 long-beaked common dolphins and 500 California sea lions.
The dolphins that first located us 10 miles offshore were in a large megapod that was feeding subsurface. Soon we identified 3 whales in this aggregation including a pair (1 large animal, 1 smaller) and a juvenile that came close to the boat a few times.
Captain Colton and the crew moved south into the northbound commercial shipping lanes and spent the rest of the trip besieged by marine mammals. A first sighting of a pair included 1 that stayed on the surface a lot and another that completely disappeared. As the dolphins here thickened to become many thousands in an area only a few hundred yards in diameter, 12 additional whales were closely watched. This tremendous hot spot also contained a large number of California sea lions. All were feeding subsurface and we enjoyed their breathing time on top.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
After having such wonderful sights further offshore (we were several miles south of San Miguel Island at one point) on our special 8-hour whale watch last month, Captain Dave is going to do it again! We’ll have plenty to time to explore every nook and cranny known to cetaceans and look for pelagic birds along the way.
Make your reservations now: Saturday, September 25 – 8am to 4pm
https://condorexpress.whalewatchreservations.com/cexvouchers/user.php?trip_id=775189
phone: 888-77WHALE or 805-882-0088
My report from the August trip is here:
All day trip with killer whales etc etc
I look forward to seeing you on board!
Bob
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