2021 11-26 SB Channel
Three humpback whales and 1200 long-beaked common dolphins provided loads of enjoyment and great looks in the Channel today. In addition, the crew pulled 4 dangerous, deflated Mylar balloons from the ocean surface to help save marine animals from a potentially horrible fate.
Small pods of dolphins were first encountered about 5 miles south of UCSB. All were actively feeding on small schools of northern anchovies, accompanied by lots of seabirds.
Mid-Channel we found a small, adult whales and it greeted the Condor Express with 3 mighty tail throws before continuing to move west.
Crossing the Channel, Captain Dave toured the north coast of beautiful Santa Cruz Island and included a trip inside the outer chamber of the world’s longest sea cave, the Painted Cave.
Just outside The Cave, and at the start of our journey back to the harbor, a mega pod of at least 1000 dolphins located the Condor. They were very active, and a few got airborne, too.
Closer to home, about 8 miles out, what we thought was a single whale which surfaced near the boat, turned out to be a probable mother and calf pair. Then things got interesting. Mom breached three times to start with. Both whales did a series of tail throws. Next the calf breached a few times. This was followed by the mom breaching some more. Our eyes were frozen and fixed on the activity for a solid ½ hour before we had to break off and get back to the dock.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com