2014 01-02 SB Channel
The trip across the Santa Barbara Channel was smooth as silk today. A few seabirds such as phalaropes and shearwaters were observed mostly resting on the surface. Later a northern fulmar sitting on the glassy surface would approach the Condor Express as we were whale watching.
The first stop on today's adventure was the famous Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island. It was fun to see during a "king tide" high tide today which resulted in no intertidal banding being visible and the Cave looked shorter.
Upon exiting the Cave we ran west to the Santa Cruz Channel which separates Santa Cruz Island and its neighbor Santa Rosa Island. Here we found a abundance of gray whales migrating south. In all, we watched 8 gray whales, but a group of 4 that had long surface intervals caught our eye and we stayed with them for quite a while.
Patience and perseverance (and good luck) paid off as the foursome we chose to stay with made great use of the ideal calm seas and proceeded to engage in mating behavior.
Check the map at the bottom of this page to see where we went today.
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A Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is seen rolling around on the surface. The whale was one of four whales in a mating pod.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-237
More Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) rolling around.
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A Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) lifts its head.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-244
Two Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) interact. The lead whale lifted its tail flukes.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-255
Two Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) sideways and upside down.
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More sideways Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus).
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Spout spray lingers in the from one Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) as a second whale creates a tail fluke waterfall.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-284
Two Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). One whale flukes-up heading for a deeper dive.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-286
More Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) hanky panky.
Eschrichtius robustus 2014 01-02 SB Channel-305
Phalaropes (Phalaropus sp.) take flight from a mirror glass ocean surface.
Phalaropus in flight reflections 2014 01-02 SB Channel-018
A rafting California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and a small patch of drifting giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera).
Zalophus californianus rafting near Macrocystis paddy 2014 01-02 SB Channel-012
ZalophuscalifornianusraftingnearMacrocystispaddy2014Channel012
