8 grays, 4 humpbacks and 1500 dolphins

2022 03-12 SB Channel

The Santa Barbara Channel weather was very good again today with calm seas and clear skies for all 3 trips, 9a, 12n and 3p. The sightings were equally good: 8 gray whales, 4 humpback whales and 1500 long-beaked common dolphins.

Common dolphins played with the Condor Express on the 9am and 12noon trip. There were different pods, in different locations on each. In the morning they were 3 miles straight south of the harbor. At noon, they were about 2 miles off Leadbetter.

Grays were watched on all 3 trips. The morning trip got started fast with gray whales only 1 mile south of the harbor. At noon we found a single, shy juvenile off Leadbetter and two more just east of UCSB. Finally, on the afternoon trip, there were 3 off Hope Ranch. All the whales were migrating without much fuss.

The same 2 humpback whales were watched on the 9a and 12n trip, making 4 official sightings logged. All were feeding subsurface and a few nice tail flukes were seen by all.

You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com