Image: A humpback whale gets ready to slap its long pectoral fin on the water.
2024 02-22 SB Channel
There were some bright, puffy clouds in an otherwise blue sky. Ripples moved across the calm ocean surface. Things were ideal for locating and watching wildlife. Two trips left the docks: 9a and 12n. Totals for the day included: 1 gray whale, 12 humpback whales and 2500 long-beaked common dolphins.
On the morning excursion, just outside the harbor, an adult northbound gray whale was intercepted and we watched from a safe distance for about 6 breathing cycles. It had long down times. We continued up the coast towards Platform Holly, a destination we never reached. Not long after we said our goodbyes to the gray whale, we came into a 1-mile stretch of coastal waters with actively feeding dolphins. Plenty of seabirds were there, too. Lots of surface anchovies got a few birdnados going.
The anchovies also attracted whales. A beach about a mile from the boat guided us to an area with 5 humpbacks. Great looks were had by all.
The mid-day trip kicked-off with 600 or so dolphins, in 3 groups, near Hendry’s Beach. Nearby we found a pair of humpbacks, then another pair joined them. After quality time with the humpbacks and dolphins we turned for home.
On the trip back to the harbor we found another 500 dolphins and 3 very active humpback whales. There were 6 or 8 instances of surface lunge-feeding. Some of the lunging and other behaviors took place close to the Condor Express. Among the other behaviors we saw some rolling around, and some pectoral fin slapping (see today’s photo for an example).
You never know what Mother Nature has in store,
Bob Perry,
Condor Express and
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