2018 06-15 SB Channel
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WHALES IN THE WIND AND A BUNCH OF LEAPING SEA LIONS.
Skies were covered by a thin stratus layer, and a light breeze wafted across the Santa Barbara Channel, but the now-famous giant whale hot spot was located again today. Closely watched animal totals included: 4+ blue whales, 1+ fin whale, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, and 25+ California sea lions. There were many more whales in the area that were not closely watched. Sea birds included brown pelicans, sooty shearwaters, phalaropes, gulls and cormorants.
About 1 mile south of the entrance to Santa Barbara Harbor, and just outside the two buoys that were festooned with sea lions, a nice group of about 200 dolphins located the Condor Express. This group appeared to be migrating or re-locating, but many still found riding the bow, side and stern waves of the boat irresistible. In the same area we saw a nice gang of California sea lions that were actively “porpoising.”
The giant whale sightings were in The Lanes and found a bit more to the west today. Our first whales were blues, followed by some very close looks at a somewhat friendly fin whale. We saw numerous tall spouts at all points of the compass. We moved a bit further west and found more blue whales.
On the way home and not far from Santa Barbara Harbor, another herd of a couple hundred dolphins found the boat and interacted with us. Great looks were had by all.
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Read MoreWHALES IN THE WIND AND A BUNCH OF LEAPING SEA LIONS.
Skies were covered by a thin stratus layer, and a light breeze wafted across the Santa Barbara Channel, but the now-famous giant whale hot spot was located again today. Closely watched animal totals included: 4+ blue whales, 1+ fin whale, 400 long-beaked common dolphins, and 25+ California sea lions. There were many more whales in the area that were not closely watched. Sea birds included brown pelicans, sooty shearwaters, phalaropes, gulls and cormorants.
About 1 mile south of the entrance to Santa Barbara Harbor, and just outside the two buoys that were festooned with sea lions, a nice group of about 200 dolphins located the Condor Express. This group appeared to be migrating or re-locating, but many still found riding the bow, side and stern waves of the boat irresistible. In the same area we saw a nice gang of California sea lions that were actively “porpoising.”
The giant whale sightings were in The Lanes and found a bit more to the west today. Our first whales were blues, followed by some very close looks at a somewhat friendly fin whale. We saw numerous tall spouts at all points of the compass. We moved a bit further west and found more blue whales.
On the way home and not far from Santa Barbara Harbor, another herd of a couple hundred dolphins found the boat and interacted with us. Great looks were had by all.
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Blue whale busting through the waves.
Balaenoptera musculus 2018 06-15 SB Channel-b-017
Blue whale's left flanks and dorsal fin. An ID shot.
Balaenoptera musculus 2018 06-15 SB Channel-b-075
Fin whale with twin carbuncles.
Balaenoptera physalus 2018 06-15 SB Channel--030
A somewhat friendly fin whale.
Balaenoptera physalus 2018 06-15 SB Channel--077
