2015 08-27 SB Channel
Hot and foggy conditions ruled our section of the Santa Barbara Channel today but somehow Captain Dave managed to get everyone aboard the Condor Express great looks. Here are the totals: 7 Humpback whales, 1,000 long-beaked common dolphins.
I have no idea how Dave and his crew managed to see any cetaceans today, nevertheless get GREAT looks at them with the fog. This fog was on the ocean surface but did not extend too far up as we could just about always feel the hot sun and saw it if you looked straight up. However, viewing things in a normal manner, laterally, there was hardly any visibility ahead of the boat and Dave used the radar until things finally cleared up around 300pm.
The highlights of the excursion today included a humpback friendly encounter. A full-grown humpback whale came up right next to the boat and everyone had chills down their spine. There were some great looking long-beaked common dolphin calves in the first pod we watched. A bit of mating behavior was observed as well. We also saw our old pal "Rope" out in the middle of the Channel today.
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Read MoreI have no idea how Dave and his crew managed to see any cetaceans today, nevertheless get GREAT looks at them with the fog. This fog was on the ocean surface but did not extend too far up as we could just about always feel the hot sun and saw it if you looked straight up. However, viewing things in a normal manner, laterally, there was hardly any visibility ahead of the boat and Dave used the radar until things finally cleared up around 300pm.
The highlights of the excursion today included a humpback friendly encounter. A full-grown humpback whale came up right next to the boat and everyone had chills down their spine. There were some great looking long-beaked common dolphin calves in the first pod we watched. A bit of mating behavior was observed as well. We also saw our old pal "Rope" out in the middle of the Channel today.
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Humpback whale tail fluke waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 08-27 SB Channel-c-023
A California sea lion rafts on the surface and wraps itself in giant kelp debris for camouflage.
Zalophus californianus rafting & Macrocystis paddy 2015 08-27 SB Channel-005
A friendly humpback whale and close encounter of the cetacean kind.
Megaptera novaeanglie & passengers 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-025
