Large number of humpbacks, thousands of dolphins, lots of sea lions

image: part of a California sea lion mob actively hunting on a hot spot.

2023 09-25 SB Channel

Skies were blue today and the seas were flat. There was not much wind until we got offshore near The Buoy, where winds were moderate. Sightings included: 10+ humpback whales, 5000 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions.

Just south of the kelp farm we watched a few small pods of dolphins and our first humpback whale. The whale swam around, zigging and zagging, with long dive times. We soon moved on.

The largest hot spots full of dolphins, sea lions and whales, were in The Buoy area, on the edge of The Lanes. We stopped to enjoy a mega pod of dolphins that covered nearly a mile of ocean, and multiple whales among them. One of the whales was very vocal and made trumpet blasts quite a bit. Another threw its tail a few times.

Nearby we found another spot, similar to the previous one, Several individuals at this location mugged the Condor Express individually, while we were on station.

You never know what Mother Nature has in store.

Bob Perry

Condor Express, and

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