Dense fog did not prevent our talented crew from some extraordinary wildlife observations today.
- Bob Perry
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
2025 08–03 SB Channel
Patches of dense, near zero visibility, fog was in interspersed with a low gray stratus layer…all this on glassy seas is today. Captain Eddy and the crew headed towards the farm and then moved a couple of miles west. Our course then changed to follow eastbound wildlife before heading north back to the harbor. Sightings for the day: 1 Minke whale, 4 humpback whales, 25 California sea lions, 1000 common dolphins and 1 ocean sunfish (Mola mola).
We saw whales and dolphins in a few locations today, but there was really only one really active, big hotspot. We were north of the farm when we spotted several birdnados going off. In addition to the birds, there were at least 600 dolphins, several California sea lions and 1 juvenile humpback whale. During the sighting, a hungry Minke whale joined the feeding frenzy alongside the humpback. We watched as the humpback whale did multiple surface lunges, a few were vertical, most were sideways. Several of them took place very close to the Condor Express and passengers had a chance to look inside the open mouth of this Leviathan. (See today’s photo for an example).
When the activity subsided we continued to the west until we found a second humpback. It was in cruising/searching mode with short dives times. Our first whale came in and joined up with our second whale to make a quick pairing. Another searching juvenile made it a trio.
Continuing east we had a very long and close look at a medium small ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Captain Eddy described it as a large dinner plate or frying pan size…perhaps a wok?
Just before turning towards the harbor for the trip home, the crew retrieved one floating, deflated, Mylar balloon from the ocean surface. Soon afterwards a second pod of about 350 dolphins came through the zone. On the trip back there was a fourth humpback whale but we did not have time to stop on it.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Note: Kudos to Captain Eddy and the crew for locating and watching so much wildlife with dense and foggy conditions.
