2018 06-15 SB Channel
Skies were covered by a thin stratus layer, and a light breeze wafted across the Santa Barbara Channel, but the now-famous giant whale hot spot was located again today. Closely watched animal totals included: 4+ blue whales, 1+ fin whale, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, and 25+ California sea lions. Once again the (+) sign next to the numbers tell that there were many more in the area but not closely watched. Sea birds included brown pelicans, sooty shearwaters, phalaropes, gulls and cormorants.
About 1 mile south of the entrance to Santa Barbara Harbor, and just outside the two buoys that were festooned with sea lions, a nice group of about 200 dolphins located the Condor Express. This group appeared to be migrating or re-locating, but many still found riding the bow, side and stern waves of the boat irresistible. In the same area we saw a nice gang of California sea lions that were actively “porpoising.”
The giant whale sightings were in The Lanes and found a bit more to the west today. Our first whales were blues, followed by some very close looks at a somewhat friendly fin whale. We saw numerous tall spouts at all points of the compass. We moved a bit further west and found more blue whales.
On the way home and not far from Santa Barbara Harbor, another herd of a couple hundred dolphins found the boat and interacted with us. Great looks were had by all.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com
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