It was a perfect 4th of July.

2017 07-04 SB Channel

Happy Independence Day!  Captain Eric and his crew crossed the Santa Barbara Channel in search of wildlife and found exceptionally fine weather and sea conditions.  Totals for the day included: 7 humpback whales, 2 blue whales and 500 long-beaked common dolphins.  It was a perfect 4th of July.

Our first humpback whale of the day was found mingling with the dolphins close to Platform B in the Carpinteria oil rig line which is just southeast of Santa Barbara harbor.  Both species seemed to be feeding sub-surface and we had great looks at them when they came up for air.

Eric ran along a southerly track until he was just south of The Lanes and near the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island, around Cavern Point.  Here two giant blue whales were located.  Down times were not excessive and surface breathing periods were long.  Consequently our sightings were fantastic.  Blue whales are always a breath-taking sight.

On the way home the Condor Express found a large oceanic hot spot with several hundred dolphins, California sea lions and various sea birds all feeding on northern anchovies.  This is the kind of activity that attracts humpback whales and a total of 5 more of them were soon being watched by their bipedal fans.  There were plenty of tail flukes and trumpet vocalizations to go around.  Amazing!

You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express