2014 08-21 SB Channel

A great day in the land of the mammals.

It was all about long beaked common dolphins everywhere we roamed around the northeast Santa Barbara Channel. Captain Dave estimated well over 3,000, and there were scads of little calves in the mix. One was so small Dave commented that it was about the same size as the black vented shearwaters that were buzzing around the herds. At least a dozen Minke whales were also seen in this region.

So after watching these mammals mixed with a lot of California sea lions, on a sunny clear day without a hint of stratus, it was 2nd Captain Eric's sharp eyes (and binoculars) that eventually put us on the humpback whales. We watched 3 humpbacks today and had great looks at the two Eric spotted. In fact one of the two surfaced within a few yards of the Condor Express on two separate occasions and, after the initial shock, gave extremely close looks to all the whale fans on board.

One very curious behavior can be seen in the humpback whale photographs below. When the friendly whale (Top Notch) surfaced near the boat on two occasions, it had a stream of muddy water that appeared to be ejected from the sides of its mouth. It was similar to what we see when gray whales rise up after bottom feeding. (Jason on the Stardust sportfishing boat insists that all the anchovies are near the bottom right now). I don't know if anyone has recorded this behavior in the past.

Is this a great time for Fall weather and local mammals wonderful or what !

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Here it comes ! A humpback whale spouts as it heads directly at the camera.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 08-21 SB Channel-b-041
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 Channel 041
A long beaked common dolphin calf is seen next to its mother.
Delphinus capensis cow & calf 2014 08-21 SB Channel-542
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2014 Channel 542
An extremely friendly humpback whale greets its fan club.
Megaptera novaeangliae & passengers 2014 08-21 SB Channel-a-141
Megaptera novaeangliae passengers 2014 Channel 141
Image 1 of 3: A very close approach by a friendly humpback whale reveals something new. A mud stream can be seen being ejected from the mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud & passengers 2014 08-21 SB Channel-z-003
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud passengers 2014 Channel 003
Image 2 of 3: A very close approach by a friendly humpback whale reveals something new. A mud stream can be seen being ejected from the mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud from mouth 2014 08-21 SB Channel-a-002b
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud from mouth 2014 Channel 002b
Image 3 of 3: A very close approach by a friendly humpback whale reveals something new. A mud stream can be seen being ejected from the mouth.
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud from mouth 2014 08-21 SB Channel-a-002
Megaptera novaeangliae ejecting mud from mouth 2014 Channel 002
Humpback whale (with a common dolphin in the background)
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 08-21 SB Channel-b-020
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 Channel 020
A long beaked common dolphin rolls over and takes a look at the camera
Delphinus capensis 2014 08-21 SB Channel-267
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 267
Minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 08-21 SB Channel-020
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 Channel 020
Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 08-21 SB Channel-b-025
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 Channel 025
Elegant tern
Sterna elegans close 2014 08-21 SB Channel-005
Sterna elegans close 2014 Channel 005
"Saw Tooth," the big Minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 08-21 SB Channel-068
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 Channel 068
A very close look at the head of a friendly humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 08-21 SB Channel-b-026
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 Channel 026
A very young common dolphin calf is seen leaping next to its mother.
Delphinus capensis calf 2014 08-21 SB Channel-240
Delphinus capensis calf 2014 Channel 240
A California sea lion leans over on its side to take a breath on the surface
Zalophus californianus 2014 08-21 SB Channel-003
Zalophus californianus 2014 Channel 003
Minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 08-21 SB Channel-022
Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2014 Channel 022
Two common dolphins in glassy jade water
Delphinus capensis 2014 08-21 SB Channel-015
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 015
Two common dolphins
Delphinus capensis 2014 08-21 SB Channel-a-030
Delphinus capensis 2014 Channel 030
Dolphin fans get a great look at a friendly mammal.
Delphinus capensis & passengers 2014 08-21 SB Channel-a-058
Delphinus capensis passengers 2014 Channel 058
California sea lion
Zalophus californianus 2014 08-21 SB Channel-004
Zalophus californianus 2014 Channel 004
Offshore oil platforms. Platform Houchin is on the right, Henry on the left. Hillhouse, C, B and A are inthe distance.
offshore oil Platform line up 2014 08-21 SB Channel-013
offshore oil Platform line 2014 Channel 013
Workers create a smoky dust cloud on top of Platform Houchin.
offshore oil Platform Houchin 2014 08-21 SB Channel-010
offshore oil Platform Houchin 2014 Channel 010

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2014 08-21 SB Channel

Location of today's photographs from camera GPS