4000 dolphins and a wonderful humpback too

Fogust 24, 2022 – SB Channel

Dense fog lasted most of the day with only a few patches of sunshine hitting the water late. Sightings included 1 humpback whale and 4000 long-beaked common dolphins.

Captain Dave transited the Channel and, near the NOAA East Channel Buoy, watched the first of a non-stop parade of dolphins, some in mega-pods. Numerous predatory sea birds were actively following the larger concentrations of dolphins. Pretty quickly after getting surrounded by dolphins, our humpback joined the feeding party.

The whale moved constantly, seemingly to locate the food that the dolphins had already located and helped to concentrate into balls. Numerous tail flukes were seen as it dove, and moved dolphin pod to dolphin pod. It also made a couple close passes by the Condor Express.

On the way home we watched the largest of all the dolphin pods.

You never know what Mother Nature has in store.

Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com