Two trips. 6 humpbacks and 1400 dolphins.

Image from a past trip: a friendly humpback and its fan club.

Conditions in the Channel were ideal again today, with bright sun, no swell and no wind. A 9am and a 12noon trip left the docks and both trips had success up off Goleta. Total sightings for the day included 6 humpbacks and 1400 long-beaked common dolphins.

The morning trip headed out near The Buoy then worked towards Platform Holly. About 2 miles from the platform we watched several groups of dolphins, about 1000 total. There was some feeding going on and a birdnado. Nearby, 3 humpbacks came into view. It was a mother and her calf, plus a third whale, and adult that kept a hundred yards or so from the mom/calf pair.

The afternoon adventure took advantage of the previous trip's success and took a course directly at the dolphin and whale hot spot. The residual dolphins present were about 400, but the same cow/calf and third whale were there and we had great looks again.

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