2020 10-08 West Santa Cruz Island
Mild weather and decent sea conditions made for a wonderful day of cetacean watching off the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Totals for the trip: 4 humpback whales, 2 giant blue whales, 1 hybrid fin/blue whale and 500 long-beaked common dolphins.
On the way across the Santa Barbara Channel towards the middle of Santa Cruz Island a pod of 100 common dolphins located the Condor Express. Later, on the way home in the afternoon, two additional pods were somewhat larger and equally fun to watch.
The land of the giants stretched east to west and about 5 miles off the northern face of Santa Cruz. Our first whales were sighted in The Lanes and included a single giant blue whale and a somewhat famous fin/blue hybrid named “Flue.” We have not seen Flue since the early summer so this was a reunion of sorts.
Moving west along The Lanes we ended up adjacent to the Santa Cruz Channel where the humpbacks were feeding subsurface. There were two pairs of humpback whales and the first consisted of a mother with her calf. Great looks were had of all four.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com