Image: Two adult humpback whales in the fog.
2023 05-13 SB Coast
Dense fog with near zero visibility was only rarely interrupted by low-hanging stratus. Things were gray. Seas were calm and there was no wind. Somehow the crew of the Condor Express pulled together some nice sightings: 10 humpback whales, 1000 long-beaked common dolphins and 35 California sea lions. A lot more sooty shearwaters are showing up now, and the little purple Velella velella were seen frequently. The crew removed one Mylar balloon near the start of the trip.
A megapod of dolphins located the Condor about 6 miles south of the harbor. They were mixed in with a few sea lions and lots of active seabirds. We continued south and into The Lanes.
Samantha, our keen-eyed researcher/galley person, spotted the first 3 whales. It was a pair plus a single. Soon a fourth whale came out of the haze. All had very long dive times.
Two miles west brough us another 3 whales…again, a pair plus a single. The single whale did a few pectoral fin slaps as we approached, then stopped upon arrival. A huge breach was seen about a mile north of us in one of those rare liftings of the fog.
We pointed out another 2 whales on the trip home, but did not have time to stop.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com