2015 09-11 SB Channel
The skies over the Santa Barbara Channel started with some high level subtropical stuff that held the heat and humidity on the ground. Later in the day the clouds dissipated and a light breeze helped bring some relief. Of course, out on the Santa Barbara Channel things were fantastic and finding cetaceans offshore remains my personal favorite way to beat the mainland heat waves. Speaking of conditions offshore, the surface water temperature in the mouth of the world-famous Painted Cave was a whopping 75°F. Can anyone say El Niño ?
After leaving Santa Barbara this morning our first cetacean encounter was with a small herd of approximately 75 short-beaked common dolphins. The pod came near the boat, then sounded for a while and, as a group (of course) returned to the surface and the Condor Express.
About 40 minutes later we had one of the best cetacean encounters of the month. Top Notch the whale got very friendly. It came to the surface after a deep dive and headed right for the boat. It spouted and stayed very close, then sounded again and repeated its friendly behavior. As I may have mentioned a few times over the past weeks, the crystal clear Santa Barbara cobalt water really enhanced this experience. One could see the entire body of Top Notch from its knobby head to broad, strong tail, right alongside the Condor.
Another 40 minutes passed and we found a pod of 5 humpback whales. One was Top Notch again, one was another pal of ours named Scarlet, the then there was a trio of very large whales that we did not recognize since they had no readily identifiable scars or wounds. Next it was off to our Santa Cruz Island tour and a previously mentioned visit to the Painted Cave. On our way home we found one more humpback whale, a small one, and about 50 long-beaked common dolphins.
----- ---- --- -- - >< o>
-
"Top Notch" the humpback whale swims alongside the boat in crystal clear Santa Barbara cobalt water.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-076
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengers2015Channel076
"Top Notch" the humpback whale makes a shallow dive in clear water a few feet from its fan club.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-030
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengers2015Channel030
"Top Notch" the humpback whale approaches the boat and its fans.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-003
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengers2015Channel003
A single bubble blast forms a ring of foam as "Top Notch" the humpback whale makes a friendly approach.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-009
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengers2015Channel009
"Top Notch" the humpback whale banks a right turn underwater.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-056
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengers2015Channel056
"Top Notch" the humpback whale plays with a piece of giant kelp debris.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT & passengers kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-11 SB Channel-z-002
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATpassengerskelpingMacrocystis2015Channel002
Kelp play, or "kelping," whole body clear water view next to the boat.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch MUGS BOAT kelping Macrocystis & passengers 2015 09-11 SB Channel-a-004
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchMUGSBOATkelpingMacrocystispassengers2015Channel004
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-11 SB Channel-g-004
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystis2015Channel004
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-002
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel002
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis 2015 09-11 SB Channel-g-006
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystis2015Channel006
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-013
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel013
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-015
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel015
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-020
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel020
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-017
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel017
Humpback whale kelping.
Megaptera novaeangliae Top Notch kelping Macrocystis CLOSE 2015 09-11 SB Channel-d-025
MegapteranovaeangliaeTopNotchkelpingMacrocystisCLOSE2015Channel025
California sea lion.
Zalophus californianus 2015 09-11 SB Channel-c-014
