Image: humpback surface sideways lunge feeding
2024 04-09 SB Channel
Captain Dave called it a “bluebird” day. It was sunny and the ocean was flat, glass calm. We ran both a 9a and 12n trip and total sightings included” 2600 long-beaked common dolphins, 2 humpback whales and 100 California sea lions.
Two nice pods of dolphins located the Condor Express about 2 miles off Hope Ranch and we had great looks. Moving further west, a single juvenile humpback was located 4 miles off Goleta. It had a regular dive cycle and was easy to watch.
Noon brought us near the Kelp Farm where a birdnado had attracted 1000 or so dolphins and a humpback whale. The hungry whale did surface vertical and surface sideways lung feeding (see today’s photo for an example). A couple of large sea lion mobs were here too. About ½ mile east brought another mega pod of dolphins on our way to do a nice tour of offshore oil platform Charlie.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and