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Basking shark! Humpbacks! Dolphins!

2019 06-11 SB Channel

Things got sunny early in the Santa Barbara Channel today, and seas were calm. Captain Dave and his crew ran the Santa Cruz Channel between the islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. Along the way the following were watched closely: 9+ humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins and 1 huge basking shark.

The action began right away when the Condor Express was just a few miles out from Santa Barbara Harbor. Here we watched 2 whales that were feeding beneath the surface and regularly kicking up their flukes. Also in this region a pod of several hundred dolphins located us.

Dave then got back on track for a productive zone out near the islands. Here we found numerous whales and closely watched 7 of them. A first cluster of 5 whales included out old friend, Scarlet. A second group of whales did some brief, but dramatic, surface lunge-feeding. There were many more spouts in the distance that we did not have time to watch.

On the way home, and just a few miles from the whales, a 25-ft basking shark was seen finning on the surface. It was a shy animal and great, brief looks were had.

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

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