2019 04-01 SB Channel
Captain Tasha and the crew of the Condor Express were astounded to locate and watch a megapod of North Atlantic right whales, surrounded by a small armada of white-beaked dolphins (also common in the far northern Atlantic seas). Tasha’s best guess was that global warming had opened up a passage way for these cetaceans to travel up the Colorado River and then to our waters via California’s vast network of irrigation canals.
Wonderful warm and glassy conditions prevailed for two trips today: a public whale watch at 9am and a private charter at 12noon. The real (non-April-Fools) sightings included: 5 humpback whales, 1 Minke whale, 200 Pacific white-sided dolphins, 400 long-beaked common dolphins and 2 juvenile blue sharks.
The morning trip headed up the coast and was soon surrounded by 100 or so common dolphins. Continuing west to some taller spouts, 4 humpbacks were found and watched. Good tail flukes were seen on all 4 of them. On the way back to the harbor, an additional 100 commons found us, as did a similar size pod of Pacific white-siders.
The noon trip headed directly offshore towards a lot of bird activity surrounding a massive bait ball. Another 100 white-siders were in the mix, feeding among the predatory seabirds. Moving west, we found 200 additional common dolphins, a single humpback whale and a single Minke whale. The humpback had pure white pectoral fins and the Minke was very friendly (for a Minke). The trip home featured two separate sightings of small blue sharks sunning themselves (individually) on the surface.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com