2016 06-13 SB Channel
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Wise ol' Captain Eric sniffed-out every cetacean, large and small, within our search range today. Seas were moderately calm and a light breeze picked up as the excursion ran along. Totals for the day were very good: 500 long-beaked common dolphins, 3 giant blue whales with many more in the area, 4 humpback whales with more all around in binocular range, and a handful of black and white bullets, aka Dall's porpoise.
All the dolphins were stretched along a line about 1 mile south of Santa Barbara Harbor. They came to the boat for a meet-and-greet session as they always do. Today we witnessed another unique feeding "skill" employed by the long-beaked common dolphins. We regularly see these dolphins flip upside-down to snatch individual anchovies or sardines from the water. Today we witnessed groups of two or three dolphins, surfing the wake of the Condor Express upside-down, and as the boat passed through schools of bait fish, the dolphins were able to "surf and feed" at the same time. Remarkable!
Moving out to the 50-fathom line, Eric located 2 humpback whales (and more all around). One of the humpback whales was a member of the Giant Kelp Bashing Club, and did not miss a single drifting paddy to smash with its long pectoral flippers.
Continuing out to The Lanes, more blue whales and humpbacks were abundant. One of the blue whales kept surfacing close to the Condor Express and this gave its fan club excellent opportunities to take "whalfies." A fleeting visit by a handful of Dall's porpoise also occurred here, and was so fast that many on board may have missed it. That's how Dall's are sometimes.
On the way home, not far from the harbor entrance, another humpback whale was observed because it was throwing its tail around and making a big commotion. What a day !
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Read MoreWise ol' Captain Eric sniffed-out every cetacean, large and small, within our search range today. Seas were moderately calm and a light breeze picked up as the excursion ran along. Totals for the day were very good: 500 long-beaked common dolphins, 3 giant blue whales with many more in the area, 4 humpback whales with more all around in binocular range, and a handful of black and white bullets, aka Dall's porpoise.
All the dolphins were stretched along a line about 1 mile south of Santa Barbara Harbor. They came to the boat for a meet-and-greet session as they always do. Today we witnessed another unique feeding "skill" employed by the long-beaked common dolphins. We regularly see these dolphins flip upside-down to snatch individual anchovies or sardines from the water. Today we witnessed groups of two or three dolphins, surfing the wake of the Condor Express upside-down, and as the boat passed through schools of bait fish, the dolphins were able to "surf and feed" at the same time. Remarkable!
Moving out to the 50-fathom line, Eric located 2 humpback whales (and more all around). One of the humpback whales was a member of the Giant Kelp Bashing Club, and did not miss a single drifting paddy to smash with its long pectoral flippers.
Continuing out to The Lanes, more blue whales and humpbacks were abundant. One of the blue whales kept surfacing close to the Condor Express and this gave its fan club excellent opportunities to take "whalfies." A fleeting visit by a handful of Dall's porpoise also occurred here, and was so fast that many on board may have missed it. That's how Dall's are sometimes.
On the way home, not far from the harbor entrance, another humpback whale was observed because it was throwing its tail around and making a big commotion. What a day !
----- ---- --- -- - >< O>
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One of our regular humpback whales, Rope, is seen here surface lunge-feeding alongside her new calf. Sooty shearwaters and brown pelicans have joined the feeding hotspot.
Megaptera novaeangliae ROPE & CALF surface lunge - hot spot 2017 06-13 SB Channel-003
MegapteranovaeangliaeROPECALFsurfacelungehotspot2017Channel003
A northbound gray whale in mid-June
Eschrichtius robustus 2017 06-13 SB Channel-051
Offshore service vessel "Alan T" heads back to the harbor after servicing Platforms C, B, A and Hillhouse. Diving birds and dolphins indicate an ocean hot spot in the foreground.
Oil Platforms C - B - A - Hillhouse & Delphinus & Pelecanus - hot spot 2017 06-13 SB Channel-002
OilPlatformsHillhouseDelphinusPelecanushotspot2017Channel002
