2017 06-14 SB Channel
It was a gorgeous sunny day in the Santa Barbara Channel. There was a little residual bump from the West, but there was hardly any wind. Total species cited for the day included 2,500 long beak common dolphins, 5 blue whales, and 3 humpback whales. Sightings today were fantastic. We had bright blue sun, bright blue water and big blue whales.
Just outside Santa Barbara Harbor, 50 very hungry Dolphins were found upside down feeding on small schools of northern anchovy. Little fish were leaping everywhere and it was great to see. About a half an hour later, Captain Dave located at least 1,000 more dolphins and they rode our waves all the way around.
After the Dolphins we took a ride out to the southwest and eventually ended up turning east and paralleling the north face of Santa Cruz Island. Soon we had five giant blue whales around us. Three of them had synchronized their breathing cycles and one of the three repeatedly showed it’s big tail flukes on the deep dives.
We continued watching the blue whales until it was time to go home. But soon after making the turn and heading towards the harbor, our deckhand Tasha had spotted another megapod of dolphins in our path up ahead. This was a high-speed traveling pod, and their wake waves were flying high…wow!
Just when we thought we could finally relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the Santa Ynez mountains and the Santa Barbara coast, 3 humpback whales made their presence known. Two of them breached repeatedly. There was a single adult and a mother humpback with her calf. You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express
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