2018 11-18 SB Channel
Captain Tasha and her crew racked-up an amazing array of cetaceans with awesome sightings of each species. Totals for the trip included 4 humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, 15 inshore bottlenose dolphins, 35 Risso’s dolphins, and 30 Dall’s porpoise. Seas were calm and the water was very clear. Five different species of cetaceans were watched today!
Bottlenose dolphins were working the coastal zone near the mouth of Santa Barbara Harbor and we had great looks. The pod was relatively large and included a few small calves.
Near mid-Channel our first whales consisted of the same mother humpback and her calf that we’ve been seeing for the past two days…identified by an “airbrush pattern” on the tail fluke. Sadly, two private boats that were unable to locate their own wildlife took up following the Condor Express around and stealing looks at our cetaceans. One of the small boats ran alongside and came up on the two whales at a dangerously high speed, causing the adult to do a massive tail throw. The little calf responded with a breach. After a while the boats lost interest and the rest of the day was free of individual yachtsmen with no respect for the rules of engagement.
Further offshore we located a spread-out batch of Risso’s dolphins and had wonderful looks at most of them. This was followed by equally fantastic interactions with a large group of high speed black and white torpedoes, aka Dall’s porpoises. They took turn riding our bow which, in the extremely clear water, was absolutely amazing.
On the way home a group of common dolphins located the Condor Express and in the same vicinity there were two more whales. We watched one of the two very closely.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com