Image: Common dolphins seen in moderate seas and wind.
2023 09-03 SB Channel
It was one of those “nautical” days that features lots of fresh sea air and plenty of waves from all directions to watch. Even better is watching our usual local marine mammal suspects in their “natural element”: Sightings included 3 humpback whales and 5,000 long-beaked common dolphins.
The first ¾ of the trip featured common dolphins everywhere. They started just ¼ mile outside the harbor and continued until we were well along our route home at the end of the trip. Some pods were small, others larger. During our whale encounter (see next paragraph) there was a super mega pod over a mile long.
With the mega pod we watched 3 humpback whales. Like the dolphins, they surfed some of the larger swells, and at times swam directly into them and busted over the top with spray flying everywhere. So wonderful to see! Given these sea conditions, it was probably a lot calmer under the waves than among them. Hence, the trio had long dive times, but did kick up a tail fluke once in a while.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
CondorExpressPhotos.com
Comments