Ideal conditions to hear the stylings of Louis Armstrong.
- Bob Perry
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
2025 09–21 SB Channel
Captain Eddy reports mostly overcast skies with glassy seas. A light wind picked up in the afternoon. It was an ideal day for finding and watching wildlife. Totals: 2100 common dolphins, 40 California sea lions and 6 humpback whales.
The action began SW of the farm. A big birdnado produced about 100 dolphins and 25 sea lions. Anchovy schools were on the surface in very clear water. Eddy pulled up alongside so everybody got good looks. (See today’s photograph for an example).
1/2 mile to the S we observed another, smaller, birdnado. We watched a pair of humpback whales before one of them left, and then watched the remaining one… clearly a winning choice. The whale worked the anchovy school and did some lunge feeding. It also rolled around, swam around upside down, and did a headstand.
Continuing SW, our next stop was a megapod of common dolphins. They were very friendly, per usual, and surfed our bow, side and stern waves, taking advantage of the glassy water. People come out to watch whales and get to see surfing dolphins as a bonus!
We turned E and spent about an hour watching two whales, an adult named “Satchmo,” and a juvenile.(See note below about Satchmo). As it always does, “Satchmo imitated the sound of the jazz trumpet player for which it was named. It did a lot of trumpet vocalizing today. In addition, not only did Satchmo fluke up before it’s deep dives, it kicked it’s tail high in the air, so quite a bit of the tail stock could be seen.
To the N, there were two whales, one was engaged in some vigorous tail slapping. Upon arrival at the scene, the activity subsided and the whales went into long, 12 minute, dive times. It was time for us to head home.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
NOTE: about the trumpet vocalization and the name of the whale, our friend, and photo ID specialist, Mark, named this whale to honor both the trumpet styling of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, and our regularly trumpet vocalizing whale. (Satchmo is short for satchel mouth in reference to the way Louis Armstrong filled his cheeks with air as he blew his horn) It’s ID is HW-MN 0502370. It has been recorded about 30 times in California, stretching from Santa Barbara down to San Diego. Puerto Vallarta on the mainland, West Coast of Mexico, is the furthest S in the record books.
