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Three great trips find 5 different marine mammal species

Writer's picture:  Bob Perry Bob Perry

Image: a surface lunge-feeding humpback whale

 

2024 03-16 SB Channel

 

Three trips departed Santa Barbara Harbor today: 9 AM, 12 noon, and 3 PM. Seas were flat and calm, with only light ripples on the surface, until the 3PM trip. It was mostly sunny except for some patches of dense fog during the morning adventure. Total sightings for the day: 700 long-beaked common dolphins, 1 Minke whale, 16 humpback whales, 1 gray whale, and 120 California sea lions.

 

On the morning trip there were strips of dense fog interspersed with clear bright sunny patches as we ran west to Goleta Bay. Just 3 miles off the beach we intercepted a mega pod of common dolphins. They were stretched out for at least a half a mile in a line. Great sightings were had by all.

 

At noon, one mile out from the harbor, we had a quick look at a fast-moving Minke whale. Continuing south our track ended in the northbound shipping lanes. There were at least 10 humpback whales in an active oceanic hotspot.  Lots of rolling around took place, plus socializing that included vocalizations (mostly grunting and groaning). Three of the humpbacks did some surface lunge-feeding. Awesome to see! Mixed-in with the humpbacks, there were at least three groups of 30 or more California sea lions.

 

There was a moderate breeze during the afternoon excursion. About 5 miles offshore we watched a single, northbound, adult gray whale. Further south we located 6 humpback whales. All of them seemed to have a particularly strong spout spray odor. We had good looks at the group and as we turned to head back to the harbor, on of them breached for all to see.

 

You never know what Mother Nature has in store

 

Bob Perry

Condor Express, and

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