2015 09-18 SB Channel
Our first cetaceans consisted of about 100 long-beaked common dolphins that we watched in that crystal clear Santa Barbara cobalt water with a glassy smooth surface. Another warm spell is coming and today it had not taken its full effect so the weather was absolutely perfect. While we were enjoying the dolphins a large California flying fish took off from in front of the Condor Express and landed about 100 yards away. The end of this first sighting episode was a fairly large detached giant kelp paddy floating freely in the middle of the Santa Barbara Channel with a thousand or so Pacific sardines hiding in the shade beneath the fronds.
Our next stop was in a region with another 200 or so dolphins and a fairly large fin whale. We had great looks at this whale, again enhanced by the glassy surface and crystal clear waters.
Around noon we were on the southern edge of The Lanes where a medium-sized bull California sea lion had been feeding. He swam slowly along the port side of the Condor keeping a watchful eye on the situation. About this time we also spotted our first two giant blue whales, one larger than the other. The small one fluked-up a couple of times, and both whales were extremely friendly and we were able to see the entire bodies of these beasts in the cobalt seawater. A second fin whale also appeared.
After an hour or so with the blues and fins described above we took a short trip a mile or two west and found another two blues. Wow! What a fantastic day for blue Whales, fin whales and dolphins. On the way home we had to stop abruptly as a single, west-bound humpback whale put in an appearance.
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Close up view of a blue whale's dorsal fin - small and curved
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-485
A blue whale on the surface with the mainland coast in the background.
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-b-003
Tall spout from a giant blue whale
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Blue whale - whole body view
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-b-047
Blue whale - whole body underwater except dorsal fin
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Blue whale with pectoral fins and tail glowing underwater
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-d-031
Blue whale arching up before a dive
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The tallest spout in the world from the largest animal that ever lived. A blue whale with Santa Cruz Island in back.
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-d-039
Blue whale head and its bow wave
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Ultra-close up view of a blue whale's tiny dorsal fin.
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-d-095
Blue whale - close up and spouting
Balaenoptera musculus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-d-054
Close look at the back of a fin whale - numerous Pennella balaenoptera copepods are attached to the skin
Balaenoptera physalus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-017
A fin whale arches-up for a deep dive
Balaenoptera physalus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-b-014
Tall spout from a fin whale near Santa Cruz Island
Balaenoptera physalus 2015 09-18 SB Channel-x-002
