Image: a pair of humpback whales west of Santa Cruz Island
2024 01-28 SB Channel
Just like things have been all week, conditions were ideal in the Channel again today. Seas were calm. Skies were blue, and sightings were enhanced by the supreme water clarity. The hills and mountains on both sides of the Channel are wonderfully green. Sightings included 4+ humpback whales and 3000 long-beaked common dolphins.
A spread-out megapod of 2000 long-beaked common dolphins was encountered starting just 1 mile off Leadbetter. Later, in The Lanes off Santa Cruz Island, a 1000-strong herd was actively feeding on numerous surface anchovy hot spots. Several birdnados developed. Towards the end of this sighting, a mysterious “cue” set the whole pod into a stampede.
As Captain Devin and the crew searched along a westerly heading inside The Lanes, three humpback whale spots were discovered. The first and second each consisted of a single juvenile that was moving slow to the east. The second juvenile soon joined up with an adult-juvenile pair. Good looks were had by all.
During the trip, the crew retrieved 4 deflated, floating Mylar balloons.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store,
Bob Perry,
Condor Express and