Image: An anchovy bait ball on the surface creates an oceanic hot spot.
2023 07-12 SB Channel
The coastal fog disappeared around 1130am and left us with gorgeous, large patches of bright blue sky. There was a light breeze with no whitecaps. Sightings included: 10+ humpback whales, 100+ California sea lions and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins.
Once again Captain Dave took us southwest to a hot zone west of the NOAA East Channel Buoy on the edge of The Lanes. But the action began only a couple of miles out from Santa Barbara Harbor as the ever-increasing pods of dolphins greeted the Condor Express. Sea birds accompanied many of these pods, especially as we got out to the hot spot. By the way, credit to Captain Dave who has coined the phrase “birdnado” to describe the scene when literally thousands of hungry birds circle around, then dive on bait balls. That’s what a degree from a major east coast university will do for your vocabulary!
During a large birdnado we saw our first whale breaching about a mile away. As we moved through the mega pods of dolphins and hundreds of sea lions to approach this whale, things got hot and we ended up closely watching at least 10 humpback whales with more in the area.
We saw mighty tail-throws, more breaching nearby, several friendly passes by the Condor Express, excellent tail flukes and a lot of trumpet vocalization.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
CondorExpressPhotos.com
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