Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as “santa barbara channel islands”
Stunning sightings of gray whales at Santa Cruz Island We zipped across a rather choppy Santa Barbara Channel with a few white caps today, on our way towards the very fertile whale grounds of Santa Cruz Island. We played briefly with 4 Dall’s porpoises around the middle of the Channel. The great news is that once we were within a …
The every watchful and crafty Captain Mat thrilled all those on board the Condor Express today as he masterfully steered us into acres and acres of oceanic activity including humpback whales. The abundant anchovies were up on the surface and it seemed like the whole animal kingdom was there. Sooty shearwaters, a few pink footed shearwaters, brown pelicans, western gulls, …
The 2012-2013 gray whale season has officially ended for the Condor and Condor Express team. We are now off to deeper waters in search of humpbacks, blues, minkes, and fin back whales. Today was glassy, calm, overcast and foggy for the first 2 trips of the day. The sun came out with a light breeze in the late afternoon. Even …
That’s right. Tomorrow, Saturday May 11 is the last scheduled gray whale migration trip for this season. Henceforth we are out to the open Channel and the Islands in search of the big boys. We expect a multitude of frisk humpbacks to be out there ready to greet the Condor and its passengers. It is the changing of the seasons, …
Captain Dave reports 1 gray whale cow-calf pair today along the coast, along with 20 bottlenose dolphins and about 50 common dolphins. The weather and sea conditions were nice. The old Condor is a “cetacean magnet” just like its younger sister ship. Naturally it helps to have an experienced veteran whale expert like Dave Beezer holding down the helm. Hope …
Our man David, Captain of the Condor, reported 5 gray whales today and approximately 50 common dolphins. Among the whales were two mother and calf pairs. The ocean was calm, the skies were sunny and warm. It was a very special day. best Bob Perry Condor Express
A lovely day on the water today for whale watching. Bright sun, a light breeze, and very calm, flat sea conditions. Report from the 12 noon adventure finds one very nice mother-calf gray whale pair. The pair was found off Campus Point and was tracked to the west past Isla Vista to Coal Oil Point (better known as Counter Point). …
One whale watching trip today (12 noon) and 6 gray whales were closely observed. This was 3 mother-calf pairs heading west back to Alaska. The show stopper was when 2 pairs stopped and played in and out of the kelp beds adjacent to the old Santa Barbara Light Tower (no longer in service). There was merriment, spy hopping, baby climbing …
Captain Dave sends us his regards from his life as captain of the ol’ Condor, and gives us this report. Two trips today, and a total of 4 gray whales headin’ for the dinner table. Plus…as many as 35 inshore bottlenose dolphins paid the Condor a visit. All on board were thrilled. best Bob Perry Condor Express
photo above: a pod of gray whales and the cruise ship The overcast skies gave way to partly sunny skies as the Condor left Sea Landing for its 12noon trip along the coast of beautiful Santa Barbara and in all, we closely watched eleven gray whales. There were 5 mother-calf pairs and a single. We followed them from east beach …