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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Takin' a leap next to mom - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-101
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 101
A long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-089
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 089
Swimming with a group of adults - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-x-005
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 005
Starting a big jump - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-100
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 100
Swimming on top of mom - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-178
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 178
Poking its head out to take a breath of air - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis 2015 08-27 SB Channel-041
Delphinus capensis 2015 Channel 041
Swimming along under the cobalt water - a long-beaked common dolphin mother and calf.
Delphinus capensis cow-calf 2015 08-27 SB Channel-086
Delphinus capensis cow calf 2015 Channel 086
A close look at a tiny long-beaked common dolphin calf.
Delphinus capensis calf close 2015 08-27 SB Channel-058
Delphinus capensis calf close 2015 Channel 058
A long-beaked common dolphin takes a leap over the mirror.
Delphinus capensis leap 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-050
Delphinus capensis leap 2015 Channel 050
Humpback whale tail fluke waterfall.
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 08-27 SB Channel-c-023
Megaptera novaeangliae 2015 Channel 023
Long-beaked common dolphin "socializing" behavior.
Delphinus capensis matine 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-008
Delphinus capensis matine 2015 Channel 008
The embrace - long-beaked common dolphin mating behavior.
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 08-27 SB Channel-005
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 Channel 005
Long-beaked common dolphin "socializing" behavior.
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 08-27 SB Channel-034
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 Channel 034
Long-beaked common dolphin "socializing" behavior.
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-005
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 Channel 005
Long-beaked common dolphin "socializing" behavior.
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 08-27 SB Channel-038
Delphinus capensis mating 2015 Channel 038
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
Zalophus californianus rafting Macrocystis paddy 2015 Channel 005
Our humpback whale friend "Rope" shows her old entanglement scar.
Megaptera novaeangliae ROPE 2015 08-27 SB Channel-b-001
Megaptera novaeangliae ROPE 2015 Channel 001
A friendly humpback whale and close encounter of the cetacean kind.
Megaptera novaeanglie & passengers 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-025
Megaptera novaeanglie passengers 2015 Channel 025
Pacific harbor seal on a rocky ledge - Santa Cruz Island.
Phoca vitulina on rocky ledge 2015 08-27 Sta Cruz Island-001
Phoca vitulina rocky ledge 2015 Sta Cruz Island 001
A small fog bank near the northwest coast of Santa Cruz Island.
Santa Cruz Island fog bank 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-006
Santa Cruz Island fog bank 2015 Channel 006
A friendly long-beaked common dolphin takes a look at its fan club.
Delphinus capensis & CINC naturalists 2015 08-27 SB Channel-a-033
Delphinus capensis CINC naturalists 2015 Channel 033

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2015 08-27 SB Channel

Location of today's photographs.