2021 05-23 SB Channel
It was sunny all day and started out glassy and calm but things freshened up as we moved offshore. Captain Colton and his crew successfully watched 4000 long-beaked common dolphins, 4 humpback whales and 15 coastal bottlenose dolphins.
As we attempted to leave the harbor this morning a small pod of coastal bottlenose dolphins located the Condor Express as well as other boats on their way out. They were heading east and we slowly moved along with them through the East Beach anchorage. These were extremely boat friendly animals.
Colton moved southwest about a dozen or so miles and found 2 adult humpback whales that stayed up on the surface, with no dives, for 45 minutes. They made several close passes and swam close to the surface as the passed under the bow of the Condor.
Further out in the northbound Lanes another humpback, and one well-known to the crew, was watched. This whale was first observed in April, 2019 by Condor Express deckhand and videographer/naturalist, Adam Ernster, who recorded its creative surface feeding technique whereby it swipes its tail at a bait ball then opens its mouth to feed. He named it “Swiper.” (CRC-18575 and HW-MN0501720). A juvenile humpback was also watched nearby.
As we moved east, two mega pods of common dolphins, each with about 2000 individuals, were watched.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
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