Beat the heat in the cool Channel with humpbacks, dolphins, sea lions!
2019 06-12 SB Channel
It was foggy with calm seas for our trans-Channel trip to Santa Rosa Island and Santa Cruz Island today. The heavy stratus began to break up as we left Santa Rosa Island and were taking a nice tour along the stunning sea cliffs that characterize the northern side/ western end of Santa Cruz Island. The limited visibility may have caused us to overlook a few distant spouts, but getting close looks at 6 humpback whales, 300 long-beaked common dolphins and a mob of 40 California sea lions, made for a great trip no matter what.
The action began about 10 miles south of Santa Barbara Harbor where we watched 3 whales (a single and a pair). The first whale got our attention, even in the fog, as it threw its massive tail. On course for Santa Rosa Island and a bit later, we stopped to watch a mob of 40 sea lions swimming in unison on the surface. We then left Santa Rosa and headed east for a tour of the sea cliffs and Painted Cave of Santa Cruz Island.
On the way home from The Cave the fog closed in again. Soon thereafter we watched a group or 3 very large adult whales in the mid-Channel region. Further along the route, and about 6 miles from home, a pod of dolphins found us and rode our bow, side and stern waves.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com