2016 10-12 SB Channel
The sea surface was calm and winds were light. Skies were gray in the morning and sunny in the afternoon. Sightings for the day included at least 1,800 long-beaked common dolphins and 1 blue whale. Here are the details.
After leaving the harbor seal on the bait receiver and sea lions on the entrance buoys behind, Captain Dave steered a course for the west end of beautiful Santa Cruz Island. South of The Lanes a super pod of around 1,000 dolphins found the Condor Express. We watched this large aggregation for a while and witnessed quite a few “high flyers” (dolphins leaping very high out of the water, as well as a few calves with their mothers.
Our next stop included a narrated tour of the west end of the Island and a look inside the mouth of the longest sea cave in the world, the Painted Cave. When we pulled away from The Cave and headed out into the Santa Barbara Channel it was not long before “ojos de águila” Auggie spotted a blue whale. It was a small whale but had very short down times (5 minutes) and long surface times. This sighting took place as the sun broke through the stratus layer and caused the whale to glow bright blue under the surface.
We were more than half way home when the second super pod of dolphins found the boat. Again great sightings were had by all.
----- ---- --- -- - >< 8 >
-
The anterior 1/3rd of a blue whale's body including pectoral fin is seen underwater as it comes up and spouts.
Balaenoptera musculus 2016 10-12 SB Channel--429
The splashguard around twin blowholes is seen as this giant blue whale takes a breath of fresh air.
Balaenoptera musculus 2016 10-12 SB Channel--329
Remora australis attached to the sides of this blue whale while stalked barnacles live on its dorsal fin.
Balaenoptera musculus Remora australis Conchoderma auritum 2016 10-12 SB Channel--221
BalaenopteramusculusRemoraaustralisConchodermaauritum2016Channel221
A Remora (top of blue whale) and several stalked barnacles.
Balaenoptera musculus Remora australis Conchoderma auritum 2016 10-12 SB Channel--284
BalaenopteramusculusRemoraaustralisConchodermaauritum2016Channel284
Remoras and barnacles on a blue whale.
Balaenoptera musculus Remora australis Conchoderma auritum 2016 10-12 SB Channel--181
BalaenopteramusculusRemoraaustralisConchodermaauritum2016Channel181
