Cool whales, cool dolphins.
- Bob Perry
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
2025 09–27 SB Channel
Again we had a high overcast persisting all day. There was not much wind and only a light bump on the water. All the sightings today were within 6 or 7 miles of shore. Totals: 30 coastal bottlenose dolphins, 2000 common dolphins and for humpback whales.
After our traditional tour of the sea lions that try to find some peace and quiet on the harbor entrance buoy, we encountered one of the largest coastal bottlenose pods we have seen in years. There were at least 30, spread out over half a mile. There were quite a few calves in the group. The dolphins were acrobatic, spy hopping and so forth. (The California coastal bottlenose population is small, so when we see a group it usually consists of 10 animals or less).
2 miles off the lighthouse we encountered substantial number of common dolphins, perhaps as many as 1500, made up of smaller pods. They were searching for food and occasionally were successful… as indicated by the number of marine birds that were following their every move. Up popped a single, juvenile humpback whale, and we had great looks. It led us slowly offshore to a second whale, all the while embedded with the original common dolphin group. Meanwhile, the juvie turned around and headed N back towards the beach. There it proceeded to lob it’s tail several times. (See today’s photograph for an example).
Dave moved us E where we ended up NW of Platform Habitat. There were several additional pods of common dolphins consisting of a few hundred each, as well as a humpback mother with her calf. (See note at the end of this report for more information about Mom). At the conclusion of this sighting we headed back towards the harbor which took us close to Platform C. Captain Dave took advantage of our proximity to slow down, take a look and talk about oil and gas exploration in the Channel, the oil platforms, their history and current status.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
NOTE: Our multi-talented deckhand, Isabel, was at it again. She photographed the tail of the mother humpback then used her skills with happywhale.com. She found the Mom’s identity: CRC-15559. It was first reported in 2011 just north of La Paz, BCS, Mexico. It has been reported 10 times along the coast near Ensenada, BC, Mexico, and multiple times along the coast of California as far north as the Santa Barbara Channel.
