2009 09-26 So Calif Bight

An all-day LA Audubon trip that took us 13 miles or so south of Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island for a while, then back across the SB Channel. It was a very calm day, sunny with a few fog patches, and marine life in abundance. Wow!

A Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) found in a mass of birds north of Anacapa Island in the Santa Barbara Channel.
prionace glauca surface 2009 socal bight 001
A Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in flight.
sula leucogaster flight adult female 2009 socal bight 036
A flock of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) with Stern's Wharf, a fog bank and the Santa Ynez Mountains at dawn.
rynchops niger dawn 2009 harbor 003
An offshore Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) leaps over a wave.
tursiops truncatus offshore 2009 socal bight 002
Four Black Skimmers (Rychops niger) fish the calm waters of Santa Barbara Harbor at dawn.
rynchops niger dawn 2009 harbor 015
Another offshore Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) races alongside the Condor Express.
tursiops truncatus offshore 2009 socal bight 001
Dawn over Santa Barbara Harbor and the sky is filled with Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger).
rynchops niger dawn 2009 harbor 034
A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) patrols the edge of the water in search of small fish.
ardea herodias silhouette dawn 2009 harbor 005
A California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) barks a loud warning.
zalophus californianus one water mouth open 2009 anacapa island 006
Among the Common Dolphins leaping across the ocean, was this California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) .
zalophus californianus leaping good 2009 socal bight 153
A fog bank envelopes an offshore oil platform and support boats.
oil platform fog 2009 socal bight 004
Arch Rock, East Anacapa Island.
arch rock 2009 anacapa island 011
A Blue Footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) came off the water amidst a mass of gulls, shearwaters and pelicans, and eventually perched on this rocky ledge on the northern face of East Anacapa Island, below the Anacapa Light.
sula nebouxii 2009 anacpa island 002
A feeding frenzy or ocean "hot spot" with shearwaters, gulls, pelicans and common dolphins all joining in the action.
bird dolphin frenzy 2009 socal bight 032
Looking northward through Arch Rock to a mass of seabirds on the water and Platform Gail on the horizon...East Anacapa Island.
arch rock 2009 anacapa island 003
A Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis) showing off.
delphinus capensis leaping 2009 socal bight 002
A Black Vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) sitting on the water.
puffinus ophisthomelas water 2009 socal bight 045
Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis leaping 2009 socal bight 001
Brandt's Cormorant (Phalocrocorax penicillatus).
phalocrocorax penicillatus water 2009 anacapa island 247
Surfing an open ocean wave...a Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis 2009 socal bight 001
Smuggler's Anchorage on the east end of Santa Cruz Island.
olive orchard smugglers anchorage 2009 sta cruz island 007
Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis 2009 socal bight 004
Common Dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
delphinus capensis 2009 socal bight 002
Passengers on the Condor Express observe patches of red tide in the Santa Barbara Channel.
red tide 2009 anacapa island 023
A flock of Red Necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus lobatus) resting on the water.
phalaropus lobatus group water 2009 anacapa island 001
The clifftops of East Anacapa Island, covered with Brown Pelicans (Pelicanus occidentalis).
pelecanus occidentalis roosting clifftop 2009 east anacapa island 177
Streaks of red tide in the Santa Barbara Channel with Platform Gail in the background.
red tide platform gail 2009 anacapa island 037
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki).
stercorarius maccormicki 2009 socal bight 002
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) begins its attack on a Pink Footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus).
stercorarius maccormicki attacks puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 001
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) attacks a Pink Footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus).
stercorarius maccormicki attacks puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 005
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) attacks a Pink Footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus).
stercorarius maccormicki attacks puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 007
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) attacks a Pink Footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus).
stercorarius maccormicki attacks puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 012
A South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) attacks a Pink Footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus). The shearwater is beginnng to cough-up its fish.
stercorarius maccormicki attacks puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 013
A Pink footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) soaring across the waves.
puffinus creatopus 2009 socal bight 195
Five Pink footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) taking off.
puffinus creatopus group take 2009 socal bight 004
The research vessel "Velero IV" on station south of West Anacapa Island.
vessel velero 2009 anacapa island 004
Anacapa Light.
anacapa light 2009 socal bight 004
Abstract foam, 1.
abstract foam 2009 socal bight 094
Abstract foam, 2.
abstract foam 2009 socal bight 136

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2009 09-26 So Calif Bight