2019 04-12 SB Coast
Calm seas on the morning trip gave way to a moderate breeze during the afternoon excursion. Skies were sunny and bright all day. Sightings for the day included: 3 gray whales and 800 long-beaked common dolphins.
The 9am cruise found a single juvenile gray whale northbound (as they all are this time of year) at Hope Ranch. We tagged along behind the whale until it reached Goleta Bay. Captain Dave and his crew then took an outside loop back to the harbor.
At 12n there was a lot of bird activity about 1 mile south of the harbor. Arriving on the scene, we found a large herd of dolphins feeding (and so were all the birds). After a while we spotted 2 gray whales near Santa Barbara Point. Many of the same dolphin group followed the Condor Express and then began interacting with the whales. The whales responded by swimming in circles and rolling around. It seemed like a happy interspecific encounter. We ran east and watched the rest of the dolphin herd before returning to the harbor.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
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