Lots of action in the SE channel including seven humpbacks and 3500 common dolphins
- Bob Perry
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Image: a birdnado with common dolphins (and a few California sea lions) feeding with lots of marine birds, primarily brown pelicans, which can be seen crash-dive feeding.
2026 06–14 SB Channel
According to deckhand Isabel, it was a very nice day in our neck of the channel. The morning stratus layer broke early to create sunny conditions with only a light breeze. Captain Dave once again took us to the SE Channel. Total sightings for the day: 3500 common dolphins and 7 humpback whales (we closely watched 5).
The sightings began soon after we left the Harbor. A very small pod of about 100 common dolphins, 3 miles S of the Harbor, located the Condor Express and played in our wake waves.
S of the Santa Barbara oil rigs, a single juvenile whale was observed sideways surface lunge-feeding on scattered northern anchovy schools. (See today’s photograph for an example). An additional 200 dolphins came by and joined the banquet. We continued our course offshore.
SW platform Habitat a BS-4 birdnado created a lot of interest including at least 2500 additional dolphins spread across the area. We saw 4 additional whales (+2 in the near distance that we did not have time to reach). All of the humpbacks were adults and one of them had a prominent propeller scar. Most of the feeding was done sub-surface. (Isabel was able to identify 2 of the whales, see note below.).
On the way home there were 2 groups, and a total of about 100, additional dolphins, but we did not stop due to lack of time.
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
NOTE: our multitalented deckhand Isabel used her photographic skills along with happywhale.com to identify 2 of our whales today on the spot. Here are their ID numbers and a few facts about each:
CRC- 19846 has been recorded 24 times previously. The first record goes back to August, 2021 from the Santa Barbara channel. The last record, before today, was from February of this year. 11 of its sightings were from the Santa Barbara channel, 12 more came from the LA area. The furthest S this whale was observed as a Cabo San Lucas in December 2025.
HW-MN0507073 has been recorded 8 times. Its first sighting was in January of this year, and the last sighting, before today, was in March. Santa Barbara channel is its northernmost record. To the S it has gone as far as San Clemente California.
Big thanks go out to Isabel!
