Near record numbers of humpbacks including our friend, Black Rakes!

Image: “Black Rakes,” the humpback whale, calf of another old pal, “Chompers,” was born in 2014. It’s distinctive Orca tail fluke rake scars make Black Rakes easily identifiable.

2023 04-21 SB Coast

Calm, glassy seas with bright sun all day! A major humpback whale hot spot was discovered and brough near record-breaking sighting numbers: 32 humpback whales and 800 California sea lions. A 9a and a 12n trip left the docks.

On the morning adventure, Captain Dave and the crew took a coast-hugging westerly course to scan for gray whale cow-calf pairs without luck. At Goleta Bay he turned offshore and about 5 miles out found a large area of activity. At least 20 individual spread-out humpback whales were counted, with hundreds of sea lions and active seabirds feeding. All of the whale feeding was sub-surface. Among the whales we saw 2 humpback mothers with calves, pectoral fin slapping, breaching, and also experienced 4 or more very friendly visits. Another one of our easily recognized individuals, Black Rakes, was present today (see photo).

At noon, a single, shy humpback about 2 miles off Hendry’s was briefly watched…we proceeded back to the morning hot spot. On the scene we found that the spread-out whales had tightened up and we watched at least 12 humpbacks in close proximity, again with a huge entourage of sealions and predatory birds. The same 2 cow-calf pairs were present. More friendly visits took place and wonderful tail flukes were seen (except for the non-fluking calves!)

Side note: the gelatinous Purple Sailors (Velella velella) are still around in patches here and there.

You never know what mother nature has in store.

Bob Perry

Condor Express, and

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