Image: Mother and calf humpback whales in the Santa Barbara Channel
2024 04-19 SB Coast
Two trips left the docks today, a 9a private trip and a public one at noon. Both experienced a high stratus grayness and very calm seas. Total sightings for the day included: 4 humpback whales, 1000 long-beaked common dolphins and 200 California sea lions.
Both trips started similarly with birdnados just 1 mile out from the harbor. Both had plenty of dophins and sea lions in the hot spots. The dolphins were spread out in the morning and formed a tight pod in the afternoon. Sea lions were in the mix both times.
After the birdnado-watching, the morning trip was returning from a search of offshore waters to find a mother humpback with her calf just 4 miles out from the Mesa. A similar path yielded 2 friendly adult humpback whales in the afternoon.
One floating, deflated, Mylar balloon was pulled from the ocean on each trip.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and