A gorgeous day with great sightings.
Image: a high-flying common dolphin in the Santa Barbara Channel.
2026 09–21 SB Channel
It was nice yesterday but you should’ve seen today. It was bright and sunny. The ocean surface was glassy until late in the trip when a light breeze wafted across the channel. The water clarity remains superb. Captain Eddy and the crew ran SW to the buoy for a while then hooked it back to the NW where they ended up off of Refugio. Totals: 2000 common dolphins, two humpback whales and 3 Ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
We had two interesting wildlife encounters near the buoy. First we had a short and sweet visit with 20 common dolphins. Nearby, there was a robust float, detached giant kelp (Macrocystis) paddy that harbored 3 large Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)… the water clarity made it all the more spectacular.
When we were 5 miles S of Refugio we encountered a mega pod of very active common dolphins. They were actively jumping, and tail walking (See today’s photo for an example). There were lots of calves in one area of the pod that became a nursery.
After slowly moving 2 miles W we encountered 2 of the same humpbacks that we observed yesterday. Today they were in slow travel mode that was interrupted by a single, substantial, tail-throw that woke everybody up.
Eddy took a ride along the coast to enjoy the sea cliffs and mansions en route to the Harbor.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
