2011 12-23 SB Channel

A spectacular winter day on the Channel. It was clear and crisp with lots of wildlife as we ran to the east coast of Santa Rosa, then to Santa Cruz and home again. Wow.

A Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus) slaps its chin.
Grampus griseus chin slap 2011 Channel 023
A southbound, large adult (female?) Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus).
Eschrichtius robustus 2011 Channel 002
Carrington Point, Sta Rosa Island...looking west.
Carrington Point 2011 Sta Rosa Isl 006
A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts near the north face of Santa Cruz Island.
Eschrichtius robustus 2011 Channel 013
A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lifts its head slightly and spouts near the north face of Santa Cruz Island.
Eschrichtius robustus 2011 Channel 019
Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2011 Channel 006
A Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouts heading towards Cuevo Valdez, Santa Cruz Island.
Eschrichtius robustus 2011 Channel 024
Another shot of the same Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) spouting near the north face of Santa Cruz Island.
Exchrichtius robustus 2011 Sta Cruz Isl 011
Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) with the west end of Santa Cruz Island in the back.
Grampus griseus 2011 Channel 038
Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus).
Grampus griseus 2011 Channel 040
Risso's Dolphins (Grampus griseus) near the west end of Santa Cruz Island.
Grampus griseus 2011 Channel 074
At least six Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) were observed with their fins chewed off by California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) that use sunfish as frisbees.
mola without fins 2011 Channel 014
Another Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) with its fins chewed off by California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus).
mola without fins 2011 Channel 002
Brandt's Cormorants (Phalocrocorax penicillatus) in the Santa Cruz Channel.
Phalocrocorax mass water 2011 Channel 035
Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) hauled out on the volcanic rocks on the north face of Santa Cruz Island.
Phoca vitulina rocks 2011 Sta Cruz Island 008
Image 1 of 3: a Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) flys above glassy water.
Puffinus opisthomelas flight glassy water 2011 Channel 017
Image 2 of 3: a Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) flys above glassy water.
Puffinus opisthomelas flight glassy water 2011 Channel 030
Image 3 of 3: a Black-vented Shearwater (Puffinus opisthomelas) flys above glassy water.
Puffinus opisthomelas flight glassy water 2011 Channel 024
Santa Barbara Light.
Santa Barbara Light 2011 Channel 002
The Pier, Bechers Bay, Sta Rosa Island.
Pier Bechers Bay 2011 Sta Rosa Island 012
The container vessel Hugo Schulte.
vessel container Hugo Schulte 2011 Channel 017
Passengers aboard the Condor Express get a first hand look at the container vessel Hugo Schulte.
vessel container Hugo Schulte 2011 Channel 002
The container vessel Hugo Schulte.
vessel container Hugo Schulte 2011 Channel 008
The vessel Kono commercially fishing California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus) on the underwater ridge between Santa Cruz Island (in the background) and Santa Rosa Island.
vessel Kono Panulirus interruptus 2011 Channel 007
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) on the Santa Barbara Harbor entrance buoy.
Zalophus buoy 2011 Harbor 013
Rafts of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) near Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island.
Zalophus rafts Carrington 2011 Sta Rosa Island 028

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2011 12-23 SB Channel