2018 04-03 SB Coast
Captain Dave and his crew took the Condor Express on two excursions today, one at 9am and the other at noon. Totals included 3 different species of dolphins and one whale. Seven gray whales, four inshore bottlenose dolphins, fifty Pacific white-sided dolphins, and three hundred long-beaked common dolphins were closely watched. Skies started out with thin, high overcast layer but turned sunny and blue by the start of the noon trip. Seas were calm, the water was clear and blue.
Three whales were found in the kelp beds of Leadbetter Point to start the morning sightings. Some nice spy-hopping was seen. Dave followed these animals west to Goleta Bay where he turned south, or offshore. About four miles out a nice and spread-out herd of common dolphins located the Condor Express and wonderful looks were had by all.
With the sun shining brightly, a trio of whales was located and watched near Hendry’s Beach as they swam west to Goleta Bay. A fourth whale was not closely watched but put on a highly visible display as it breached multiple times.
In the calm coastal waters of Goleta Bay we left the trio of whales and witnessed a rare and wonderful interaction between several dozen Pacific white-sided dolphins and four inshore bottlenose dolphins. The two different species rolled, breached, went on high-speed runs, and otherwise seemed to be “having a good time” together. We’ve not see the two species interact like this before.
You never know what Mother Nature has in store. Bob Perry Condor Express, and CondorExpressPhotos.com