2016 04-01 SB Channel All three excursions into the Santa Barbara Channel were highly successful in part due to the warm skies and excellent sea conditions. But it was also in part to the presence of so many kinds of marine mammals in our region and the ability of Captain Dave and his crew to find them. One secret used … Read More
Coastal Humpbacks & Minke Whales Continue to Enthrall All
Coastal Humpbacks & Minkes Continue to Enthrall All It was out to the Flats again today with a light breeze and something new: sunny skies! Along the way we took a close look at Platform Hogan, and rode with several small groups of common dolphins. We had perhaps 1,000 common dolphins all together on today’s trip. We also had some … Read More
Calm seas and a nice humpback whale
Calm seas and a nice humpback whale. Once again we took advantage of the extremely nice sea conditions along the mainland coast to find humpback whales and Minke whales. As is has been for a few weeks now, the day featured overcast skies and a sea surface that remained mill pond glassy smooth until we were well on our way … Read More
Ventura Flats Yields 8 Big Cetaceans Humpbacks Whales and Minke Whales
Captain Mat used his experiences from yesterday plus his natural keen eyesight to steer the Condor Express through a series of cetacean sightings today. Running back to the northeast Santa Barbara Channel, Mat quickly found 5 humpback whales and 3 Minke whales. Mat says that the Minke whales were, again, very friendly and gave everyone on board some great looks. … Read More
Many humpbacks and Dave rescues a kitty.
Many humpbacks and Dave rescues a kitty. Again the Condor Express ran east to the Flats and found many hot spots, dolphins and whales. Captain Mat steered a course out of the harbor for the western Ventura coast, east of Platform Hogan. Although the outer Flats showed less bird and dolphin masses today, nearer to shore there were at least … Read More
Minke Whales Baleen on the Flats
Baleen on the Flats Whoa! Did Captain Dave do it again! We left the harbor and ran southeast towards Platform Hillhouse where we encountered several friendly pods of long beaked common dolphins and their sooty shearwater aerial accompanists. The sky had a thin overcast, and the ocean surface wall mill pond glass. Before long the eagle eyes of Captain Dave … Read More