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Two really exciting humpback whales and two species of dolphins.

curtis35188

2021 06-08 SB Channel

Crewman Devin demonstrated his visual acuity by finding a breaching whale at a super human distance. The second whale was similarly located by Captain Colton who refused to be out-done. Seas were nice, skies were sunny, and a light breeze kept the air fresh. Totals for the day included 2 humpback whales, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, and 100 short-beaked common dolphins.

Devin’s whale continued breaching as we watched it for 1½ hours. One breach was close enough to send spray across the lower deck. Its aerial action was interspersed with surface activities such as tail-throwing, pectoral fin-slapping and lots of rolling around (aka El Rollo’s). This was the money whale and we were 4 miles northeast of the NOAA East Channel Buoy.

Colton took the Condor Express closer to the Santa Cruz Island, and about 4 miles outside Cueva Valdez, he honed-in on the second whale. This was a sub-adult and it was remarkably friendly. It swam back and forth under the boat a few times so it might be considered a soft “mugging.” Good stuff!

On the way home there were scattered pods of long-beaked common dolphins and one pod of their short-beaked cousins. The shorties were highly animated and ran with the boat (traveling 20+ kts).

You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com

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