Some great humpbacks today, and more!
- Bob Perry
- May 4
- 2 min read
2026 05–04 SB Channel
Hooray! We are back on our 4 1/2 hour long trip schedules. Captain Eddy and the crew report a light breeze with no chop under clear and sunny skies. They ran S as far as the Nbd shipping lane. Sightings for the day: 3 humpback whales and 25 common dolphins.
We saw very small groups of common dolphins throughout the day. Once again the ocean surface was covered in spots by purple sailor jellies (Velella velella), and there were a large number of phalaropes (red-necked?).
We were east of the buoy and still north of the lanes when we came up upon a single adult whale. (see note below about whale IDs) This whale was fairly cooperative with short dives (5 minutes) and appeared to be swimming around randomly. After about a half an hour we moved a bit E.
2 miles away we encountered a mother humpback with her calf. Right off the bat, the youngster engaged in some tail throwing. It was generally very playful around its mother. After a nice long time with quality looks, we continued into the lanes.
In the Nbd lane, we watched a large ocean sunfish (Mola mola) actively feeding on purple sailor jellies (Velella velella), which is always an amazing natural phenomenon to observe. At this point the previously mentioned calf took up some breaching (thanks to our friend Captain Devin), so we returned and watched the little guy get airborne many times in a row. [Research has shown that humpbacks, especially calves, benefit from airborne activities such as breaching and tail throwing. It increases the amount of myoglobin in their muscles which helps them throughout their life by providing oxygen during deep dives].
You never know what mother nature has in store.
Bob Perry
NOTES
Our multitalented deck hand, Isabel, was able to photograph and identify the two adult Whales we saw today using happywhale.com Here is what she found:
First whale: CRC – 10669. It was named Pointu, it has been recorded 23 times since it was first observed in 1992 in California. The last sighting before today was in March of this year in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Throughout its life it has been recorded as far north as Sea Ranch, which is north of Jenner in northern California, and South to San Juan Del Sur, near the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Second whale: CRC – 10531. It was named Shauna, and previously called Paya. His wheel has been recorded 50 times since it was first entered into the system in 1991 in California. It’s last sighting prior to today was in January 2025 in El Salvador. Throughout this life it is arranged from Monterey Bay California in the north, to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.
Thank you Isabel!
