Image: humpback whale calf throwing its tail around.
2023 07-07 SB Channel
Calm seas prevailed today with morning gloom and afternoons sun. Sightings were phenomenal again: 11+ humpback whales and 1000 long-beaked common dolphins.
Our path today took us straight south to the middle of the Channel where we turned west for few miles and ended up back in the NOAA East Channel Buoy area. Dolphins were seen in small groups all day, starting just a mile offshore. One larger (300 dolphin) pod was found about 5 miles out where there was an anchovy bait ball on the surface and birds were active there too.
We found our first whale in The Lanes, and like many of the humpbacks we’ve seen lately, it was on the surface a lot and traveling. We followed it to the west.
West of The Buoy we encountered the first of two mother-calf humpback pairs. The calf had white pecs and tail, did a bit of rolling around next to its mother, and threw its tail (see today’s photograph). Nearby we found and closely watched 6 more whales, with a LOT more spouts in the near distance. Among this group we heard a lot of vocalization going on.
In the group of 6 there was another mother-calf pair. This calf also threw its tail, and the pair made a couple of close and friendly passes by the Condor Express. On our way home we found two more whales and saw quite a few more whales in the distance.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store.
Bob Perry
Condor Express, and
CondorExpressPhotos.com