Image: A humpback does some kelping in a long line of green surf grass.
2023 08-24 SB Channel
A high stratus layer burned to clear and sunny skies by 1130am. The sea surface was rippled and calm. Captain Dave and the crew ran to the western Channel today. Sightings were phenomenal: 5000 long-beaked common dolphins, 75 offshore bottlenose dolphins, 5 humpback whales and 2 Minke whales.
Just 4 miles out from the harbor we stopped to enjoy some always energized offshore bottlenose dolphins. This pod was particularly active with 20-foot or more vertical leaps and lots of acrobatics. Lots of calves were mixed in.
Further west, off Goleta, we began seeing an almost endless stream of common dolphins. An adult Minke whale cruised by and we all had good looks. More common dolphins were watched and a second, smaller, Minke whale was watched. This smaller Minke spent some time surfing our stern wake.
Toward the western limits of our travels, we found more common dolphins and all 5 of our humpback whales. Among the whales, there was an active juvenile that engaged in some active kelping behavior along a oceanic front line full of debris. Technically, it was not kelping in kelp, but used thousands of clumps of an intertidal and shallow growing flowering plant called surf grass. (See today’s photograph for an example). The small whale was also very vocal with lots of trumpeting.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com