2014 09-26 SB Channel
Sun, blue skies, blue water. What a great combination. There was a moderate swell from the winds blowing way out in the far west Santa Barbara Channel. This did not bother the Condor Express, but it did offer some great looks at the long beaked common dolphins surfing the swells all day long. Fun stuff. We estimated nearly 1,500 dolphins around the boat as a total for the day. Not far south of the offshore oil platforms Captain Dave located the first humpback whale spout. One spout led to another (a good problem to have) and we ended up watching 8 different humpback whales. Two of the 8 were a mom with her calf. The rest were solitary whales, but for a pair of very large adult whales. One of the adults breached not too far from our position. Humpback whales set a course heading towards the Condor Express several times, and others ran a course alongside...great looks. At one point a pair of whales fluked up together and headed for deep pastures (anchovy schools). It is "prime time" in our neck of the Channel.
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Image 1 of 2 in a row: A humpback arches its back and shows its broad tail flukes
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-26 SB Channel-012
Image 2 of 2 in a row: A humpback waterfall
Megaptera novaeangliae 2014 09-26 SB Channel-013
A tiny red-necked phalarope searches the ocean surface for nearly microscopic animals
Phalaropus lobatus 2014 09-26 SB Channel-005
California sea lion leaping across the waves
Zalophus californianus 2014 09-26 SB Channel-d-059
A California sea lion cranes its neck to look at its fans on the Condor Express
Zalophus californianus 2014 09-26 SB Channel-012
An inquisitive California sea lion looks at the camera from beneath the waves
Zalophus californianus UW 2014 09-26 SB Channel-008
Side view - California sea lion under water
Zalophus californianus UW 2014 09-26 SB Channel-006
Commercial lobster fishing boats "Area 51" and "Bella B" load their traps at the launch ramp in Santa Barbara Harbor. Additional traps can be seen in the background.
vessels Area 51 & Bella B loading lobster traps Panulirus interruptus 2014 09-26 SB Channel-a-004
vesselsAreaBellaloadinglobstertrapsPanulirusinterruptus2014Channel004
Commercial lobster and crab vessel "Mysteri" loads lobster traps (black cages) and crab traps (yellow plastic boxes) at the launch ramp in Santa Babara Harbor
vessel Mysteri with lobster and crab traps Cancer magister & Panulirus interruptus 2014 09-26 SB Harbor-002
vesselMysteriwithlobsterandcrabtrapsCancermagisterPanulirusinterruptus2014Harbor002
