2022 10-12 SB Channel
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Skies were mostly cloudy except for a few “sun rooms,” aka “sucker holes,” where the sun found a small window to the ocean surface. It rained nicely for about 3 minutes as we approached the harbor on our way home. Sightings were great: 6 humpback whales, 3 Minke whales, 3500 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions.
Captain Dave stopped for a single Minke whale about 3 miles south of the harbor. As we waited and watched for its third surface interval, two additional Minke whales popped up. The second pair were more cooperative with longer surface times. It was a good start to the day!
30 minutes later brought us to our first dolphin (and seabird) hot spot. There were at least 2000 dolphins in this region and at least that many sooty shearwaters. We’d see more of both species throughout the day!
About 3 miles north of The Lanes our pal Juan turned our attention to a nice breach about 2 miles east of our location. On the scene, we found 3 humpback whales. One of them, the apparent early breacher, let loose about 5 more aerial adventures. The group was steadily moving west with stops to feed at hot spots signaled by dolphin and bird activity.
A nice group of California sea lions came porpoising through the area. Soon afterwards, there was a mini pod of dolphins that went on a short, but interesting, stampede.
Around 1pm, a lone humpback whale hit a small hot spot with a dramatic “eye opening” surface lunge feeding event. (See today’s photo and look for the open eye!). Two additional whales soon joined, but subsequent feeding was sub-surface.
On the way home, about 1 mile from home, we watched another mega pod of dolphins.
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Read MoreSkies were mostly cloudy except for a few “sun rooms,” aka “sucker holes,” where the sun found a small window to the ocean surface. It rained nicely for about 3 minutes as we approached the harbor on our way home. Sightings were great: 6 humpback whales, 3 Minke whales, 3500 long-beaked common dolphins and 100 California sea lions.
Captain Dave stopped for a single Minke whale about 3 miles south of the harbor. As we waited and watched for its third surface interval, two additional Minke whales popped up. The second pair were more cooperative with longer surface times. It was a good start to the day!
30 minutes later brought us to our first dolphin (and seabird) hot spot. There were at least 2000 dolphins in this region and at least that many sooty shearwaters. We’d see more of both species throughout the day!
About 3 miles north of The Lanes our pal Juan turned our attention to a nice breach about 2 miles east of our location. On the scene, we found 3 humpback whales. One of them, the apparent early breacher, let loose about 5 more aerial adventures. The group was steadily moving west with stops to feed at hot spots signaled by dolphin and bird activity.
A nice group of California sea lions came porpoising through the area. Soon afterwards, there was a mini pod of dolphins that went on a short, but interesting, stampede.
Around 1pm, a lone humpback whale hit a small hot spot with a dramatic “eye opening” surface lunge feeding event. (See today’s photo and look for the open eye!). Two additional whales soon joined, but subsequent feeding was sub-surface.
On the way home, about 1 mile from home, we watched another mega pod of dolphins.
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Black-vented shearwaters.
Puffinus opisthomelas 2022 10-12 SB Channel-c-018
A Black-vented shearwater.
Puffinus opisthomelas Black-vented shearwater 2022 10-12 SB Channel--034
A Black-vented shearwater.
Puffinus opisthomelas Black-vented shearwater 2022 10-12 SB Channel--036
A Black-vented shearwater.
Puffinus opisthomelas Black-vented shearwater 2022 10-12 SB Channel--056
Black-vented shearwaters.
Puffinus opisthomelas Black-vented shearwater 2022 10-12 SB Channel--077
