2018 07-17 SB Channel – East
Captain Dave and the crew of the Condor Express closely watched 5 blue whales, 1 fin whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins and 15 offshore bottlenose dolphins. The trip today ran southeast down to the eastern end of Santa Cruz Island. Skies were gray in the morning and sunny soon after.
Upon arrival at the hot spot the common dolphins quickly located the boat and kept us company for a while. These encounters always seem like dolphins watching people as much as people watching dolphins.
Although there were definitely more in the area, we watched at least 5 different blues and 1 fin whale. As we were watching the giant blue whales, all the sudden the bottlenose dolphins kind of came out of nowhere. They swam over to the blue whales and started “bow riding” on the head of the blue! These dolphins will surf any kind of wave in the ocean it seems. It was sunny coming home and sunny in Santa Barbara Harbor.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com