Breaches, tail-throws and 7 humpbacks

2018 09-03 SB Channel

Captain Tasha and her crew once again found excellent conditions in the Santa Barbara Channel. It started out overcast but soon became sunny and warm. Seas were flat and calm. Total sightings for the day included 7 humpback whales, 300 long-beaked common dolphins, and 500 California sea lions.

All of the action was in The Lanes adjacent to the western end of Santa Cruz Island. The first sighting consisted of two large humpback whales that were moving west. Quickly thereafter, three more whales were seen in the distance and we followed two of them. The distant whale breached. The other two were very friendly and made close approaches to the Condor Express. Several hundred sea lions were in the area as well.

After a while we moved east and found three more whales. One breached and another one threw its tail. More dolphins were mixed in with this trio. Towards the end of the siding one of the whales breached three or four times in a row. Lots of very active Whales today!

You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com