(Above: The west end of Santa Cruz Island)
2022 11-30 SB Channel
A storm is arriving tomorrow, and it brought us strange easterly winds and some chop. Skies were overcast. Sightings included 2 humpback whales and 60 California sea lions.
South of the NOAA East Channel Buoy we watched a mob of sea lions move around the area. We found they were on the surface directly above a sub-surface juvenile humpback. The whale had 5 – 6 minute down times and moved around a bit while submerged. No matter! We just followed its sea lion entourage.
Captain Dave gave a nice tour of the western end of Santa Cruz Island (as shown in the photograph above). The steep sea cliffs are always beautiful to see from the ocean vantage.
On the way back to the harbor two more sightings took place: Once again we spotted the sea lion mob and its pet humpback, and we slowed to get additional looks. Then, about 6 miles north, we found 2 adult whales. It was a great sighting to round out the day.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
CondorExpressPhotos.com