14 humpbacks, 3500 dolphins, 25.5 sea lions, and some really unusual behaviors.
- Bob Perry
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
2025 08–01 SB Channel
Although no sun was seen today, conditions were otherwise spectacular with glassy seas all day. Captain Eddy and the crew took a straight southwesterly course heading and ended up just east of the buoy and then came back home on the same track. Sightings: 3500 common dolphins, 14 humpback whales and 25.5 California sea lions.
Close to the farm, we watched 2 humpback whales in a megapod of at least 1000 dolphins. We continued southwest for a short distance intending to head for a breaching whale. We came upon 1 small whale (which had stopped breaching) that joined the previous 2. One of them swam off and the 2 remaining whales formed a “close bond”. One member of the pair spent a lot of time logging on the surface which apparently attracted the attention of the second whale that may have felt “ignored,“ to put a human spin on it.
The active whale would not let the logging whale alone. It blew bubbles at it underwater. It rolled around and put both pectoral fins in the air. (See today’s photo for example). At one point the active whale actually rested its head entirely upon the logging whale’s body. After the logging whale woke up the two did some simultaneous spy hops. This was a really unique and memorable sighting.
We were just east of the buoy when we found an area festooned with whales, dolphins and a small birdnado. The first whale we saw was a giant adult that was attracted to a 2nd megapod of at least 2000 dolphins. There were easily 10 more whales at this location. Captain Eddy slowed the boat and we watched whales all around as they surfaced. One individual looked like it was becoming friendly with the Condor Express only to perform a giant tail throw very close, sending spray all over the place.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Footnote: you may have noticed today’s sea lion count included 1/2 of a sea lion. We came across this individual, remarkably still alive and alert, with half of its body missing from a very fresh shark attack. I won’t dwell on it, but it was one of those grizzly, circle of life, events.
