2021 09-11 SB Channel
The glassy days of the past week came to an end as a moderate breeze worked down the Channel and kicked up a little bit of chop and spray. This wind made things sunny, except, ironically, at Santa Cruz Island which was fogged-in solid. Sightings around the NOAA East Channel Buoy continue to be amazing and today’s bounty included: 15+ humpback whales, 6000 long-beaked common dolphins and 50 California sea lions.
If you drew a 2 mile circle with the buoy in the middle, it would contain all of the hot spots filled with the marine mammals we closely watched today, and many that we could not reach due to lack of time. Both dolphin and whale sightings got kicked off north of the buoy with the first whale being our friend “Snowflake” with 2 additions whales in close proximity. A mile north we watched 3 more, and one more mile put us in a group of 5 whales. Naturally, the area was festooned with dolphins.
Moving east, we encountered the greatest dolphin density and an additional 6 – 8 whales spread out over 2 miles of water. The dolphins at this location took a couple of high speed “stampede” runs, which is a sight that will take your breath away, if you had any air left in your lungs after all the humpbacks.
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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