Image: A breaching humpback whale.
2024 02-18 SB Channel
It was overcast all day. We ran 2 trips: 9a and 12n. There was a moderate breeze in the morning which increased on the noon trip. Additionally, a very large, long-period swell was rolling through the Channel. Sightings for the day included: 3 humpback whales and 2500 long-beaked common dolphins.
On the 9a excursion we found the same 3 whales we watched yesterday. The sighting took place south of the Kelp Farm. As yesterday, the pair consisted of a large adult and a smaller sub-adult. The larger whale had a rather unique and damaged tail fluke that showed orca rakes and old, healed scars. Today, the whales were not only friendly with the Condor Express but they seriously MUGGED us for a long period of time. Then…the whales went into play/activity mode and breached repeatedly (see today’s image above for an example). Pectoral fin slapping and chin slapping was also part of the repertoire. A megapod of at least 2000 dolphins rounded out the trip.
At noon the whales had moved out of the area, but some of the dolphins still remained from the morning. We watched about 500 that had moved inside the Kelp Farm. With rising seas, our long-range searching was limited.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store,
Bob Perry,
Condor Express and
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