A spectacular sunny day results in great sightings.
- Bob Perry
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
2026 01–11 SB Channel
Captain Eddy and the crew ran S to the edge of the lanes and back again. The weather and sea conditions were ideal for locating and watching wildlife. It was a sunny day with flat calm scenes and no wind. We had great water clarity all across the channel. Sightings for the day included: 25 common dolphins, 1 Minke whale, 1 blue shark, 7 humpback whales (3 were closely watched), and 10 California sea lions.
N of the dome we watched 15 dolphins that were mostly milling around and drifting to the NE. As with all of our sightings today, the water clarity enhanced the experience. We continued S until we were on the dome itself.
Two sub-adult humpback whales, one larger than the other, kept us entertained for quite a while. At first, they made a few close and friendly approaches, plus they swam under the bow slowly. Nearby a nice birdnado developed, and they’re already sea lions and dolphins feeding there. The 2 whales went to work repeatedly lunge feeding, both vertically and horizontally, until the entire school of fish had been consumed. (That took about 10 minutes). There were many more spouts in the area, so Captain Eddy started to move us.
But the humpbacks were having none of it. Not long after we pulled away, they went into a high energy and active mode that included lots of tail-lobbing as well as a massive breach that was not too far from the Condor Express. This sent the chills down many human spines before we continued S. (see today’s photo for an example).
North of the lanes Captain Eddy spotted two fins poking out of the water. At first he thought it was a couple of ocean sunfish (Mola mola). As we moved in slowly it turned out to be a single 4 foot long blue shark traveling just beneath the surface with only the tips of its dorsal and tail fins in the air. We had some really good looks before it finally dove out.
On the way home we stopped for a third humpback whale. It was a short sighting, but the whale made a couple of friendly passes and, like the earlier whale, swam under our bow. As we continued towards the Harbor, there was a very quick surfacing of a medium whale. It was “one and done” so it is possible many people missed it entirely.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
