2015 03-23 SB Coast

Captain Dave took the helm as the Condor Express ran a noon trip loaded up with happy and knowledgeable whale enthusiasts. A short trip to the southeast brought us within good visual range of two northbound gray whales. These #whales were very regular in their habits and averaged 3½ minutes down between spouts. They were very nice whales.

We then headed away from the larger cetaceans in favor of some of the smaller species. At first we watched about 100 long-beaked common dolphins, but after another sighting of a gray whale pair, a mega-pod of widely spread-out #dolphins came our way from the west. This second pod easily contained 750 - 1,000 individuals. There were lots of cow-calf pairs all around. What fun!

By the way, the second pair of whales may have been a second sighting of the first pair. But additional spouts were seen in the zone.

Sea conditions were good. Skies were sunny and warm, and a fresh breeze wafted across the inner waters making the spouts puff up for easy spotting.

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Image 1 of 5: Mother and calf long-beaked common dolphins.
Delphinus capensis cow & calf 2015 03-23 SB Coast-026
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Coast 026
Image 2 of 5: Mother and calf long-beaked common dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2015 03-23 SB Coast-041
Delphinus capensis 2015 Coast 041
Image 3 of 5: Mother and calf long-beaked common dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2015 03-23 SB Coast-092
Delphinus capensis 2015 Coast 092
Image 4 of 5: Mother and calf long-beaked common dolphins.
Delphinus capensis cow & calf leap 2015 03-23 SB Coast-145
Delphinus capensis cow calf leap 2015 Coast 145
Image 5 of 5: Mother and calf long-beaked common dolphins.
Delphinus capensis 2015 03-23 SB Coast-007
Delphinus capensis 2015 Coast 007
A bubble stream is seen as a long-beaked common dolphin barely penetrates the mirror surface to breathe.
Delphinus capensis 2015 03-23 SB Coast-053
Delphinus capensis 2015 Coast 053
Dorsal fin, with stalked barnacle (Xenobalanus globicipitis), of a high speed long-beaked common dolphin.
Delphinus capensis dorsal fin CLOSE 2015 03-23 SB Coast-057
Delphinus capensis dorsal fin CLOSE 2015 Coast 057
Long-beaked common dolphins and their fan club.
Delphinus capensis wide angle 2015 03-23 SB Coast-a-010
Delphinus capensis wide angle 2015 Coast 010
Northbound gray whale.
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 03-23 SB Coast-005
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 Coast 005
A gray whale swims beneath the surface as a large swell rolls across it.
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 03-23 SB Coast-b-009
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 Coast 009
A gray whale spouts behind a swell.
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 03-23 SB Coast-b-011
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 Coast 011
Bright sun, blue water, and a gray whale spouts.
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 03-23 SB Coast-b-024
Eschrichtius robustus 2015 Coast 024
A pair of long-beaked common dolphins.
Eschrichtius robustus TWO 2015 03-23 SB Coast-026
Eschrichtius robustus TWO 2015 Coast 026
Two gray whales are seen swimming northbound under the clear blue water. The Santa Barbara Coast (More Mesa) is shown in the background.
Eschrichtius robustus TWO wide angle 2015 03-23 SB Coast-a-025
Eschrichtius robustus TWO wide angle 2015 Coast 025
The harbor dredge "La Encina" pumps water from its effluent pipe with Stern's Wharf in the background.
Harbor Dredge shooting water stream 2015 03-23 SB Harbor-006
Harbor Dredge shooting water stream 2015 006
A single elegant tern - in flight.
Sterna elegans in flight 2015 03-23 SB Coast-006
Sterna elegans flight 2015 Coast 006
Two elegant terns - aerial combat.
Sterna elegans in flight 2015 03-23 SB Coast-001
Sterna elegans flight 2015 Coast 001

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2015 03-23 SB Coast

Location of today's photographs from camera GPS