2010 05-30 SB Channel
Northern Right Whale Dolphins (Lissodelphis borealis), Pacific Whitesided Dolphins (Lagenorhyncus obliquidens), and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) galore! A most memorable adventure on a sunny day with glassy seas. Wow! First we got seriously "mugged" by two groups of 3 Humpbacks, with a 4th beast joining in the fun on the 2nd encounter. No whaler was left uncoated with fragrant spout spray, and ears filled with the trumpet calls from these magnificent monsters. Then we moved south towards the "mother lode" of Humpbacks....yes, that's right, we had not even been in the thick of things yet. While observing at least 50 beasts all around, as far as the eye could see, Capt Dave Beezer spotted some activity about a mile northwest of our location. It was a mixed group of several Rissos Dolphins (Grampus griseus...not photographed here) along with several hundred very friendly Pacific Whitesided Dolphins, and mixed in with the group of 3 different Odonotocetes, the rarest of all....many friendly Northern Right Whale Dolphins. Suffice it to say that the memory cards and memory centers of the brain were both filled to capacity by the time we said goodbye and headed for the "island portion of the trip." This was one of THOSE kinds of days...great to be alive and breathing the fresh air of the Santa Barbara Channel.
Read MoreNorthern Right Whale Dolphins passing close by the whalers.
LissodelphisborealisNorthernRightWhaleDolphinpassengers2010Channel044
One Northern Right Whale Dolphin comes in for a closer look.
LissodelphisborealisNorthernRightWhaleDolphinpassengers2010Channel002
Two Northern Right Whale Dolphins make a close approach.
LissodelphisborealisNorthernRightWhaleDolphinpassengers2010Channel036
Northern Right Whale Dolphin with ocean surface ripples playing tricks with the image.
LissodelphisborealisNorthernRightWhaleDolphinreflection2010Channel018