The low stratus only lasted about 30 minutes and the rest of the day was fabulous with warm sun and glassy seas. Captain Dave steered the Condor Express towards the mid-Santa Barbara Channel where cetaceans have been feeding this week. Total sightings for the trip included 3 humpback whales, 2 Minke whales and over 1,000 long-beaked common dolphins. Here’s the story.
There were hundreds of dolphins working on isolated bait patches from mid-Channel to The Lanes. From this point Dave ran east towards the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa. Soon two Minke whales were located. The first was larger and also sort of “friendly,” as it swam down the side of the Condor giving great looks to all. The second was smaller and shy.
Continuing east, 2 humpback whales were located here, one at a time. Again hundreds of dolphins were mixed in and all the cetaceans joined up with the sea birds and sea lions at small bait patches in their path. The whales did fluke up quite a bit and watching those massive flukes on a mirror glass ocean was spectacular.
On the way home a third humpback whale was located…more dolphins too.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express
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